Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has today launched the 2010-2012 Tripartite Electoral Strategy aimed at advocating for free and fair elections in the country.
Speaking during the launch in Lusaka today, FODEP Executive Director Charity Musamba said a credible electoral process was key to achieving poverty eradication and good governance in any democratic country.
ZANIS reports that Dr Musamba said there was need to have a credible electoral process that could help in attaining objectives set in national initiatives such the National Development Plans, Vision 2030, Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), Gender Equality, and Decentralisation policy among others.
She explained that FODEP believed that the country had changed greatly in the past decade and the recent general elections marked a political millstone that left Zambia with many new observations and lessons that could help in refining the current electoral process and system.
She added that the new perception on the electoral process and system needed to be equally considered in a bid to improve the way in which elections were conducted in Zambia.
Dr Musamba noted that FODEP had decided to launch the 2010-2012 Electoral Strategy as a result of to the lessons and observations learnt from the past general elections that have been held in the country.
She cited high prevalence of electoral malpractices, disputes and litigations, abuse of public resources, high incidences of electoral violence, voter apathy and wasted votes and non adherence to the electoral code of conduct as some of the key issues.
She explained that the 2011 tripartite elections would be a defining moment for Zambia and a test to the integrity and credibility of the country’s electoral process.
Dr Musamba stated that this was because since the 1996 elections there had been contention of election results which cast a doubt on the integrity and credibility of the electoral system.
She, however, expressed hope that the forthcoming elections may be different from the previous ones adding that this was because some concerns that affected the electoral process have been addressed in the new draft constitution.
She also disclosed that her organisations would engage political parties to ensure that they offered issue based campaigns and discourage vote buying to ensure free and fair elections that could enhance the country’s democracy.
Dr Musamba has also urged Zambians to register as voters, if they were to be part of the decision making in the 2011 elections.
[ ZANIS ]
I seriously doubt if the so called strategy will achieve the desired results. In the developing world it is difficult to avoid malpractices by the ruling party.Besides FODEP does not have the muscle to do anything! The only option is for the opposition to form a strong alliance that will speak with one voice and to give more power to the judiciary to resolve any disputes or malpractices that can arise!