PRESIDENT Banda has said that the parallel vote tabulation (PVT), which some civil society organisations and donors are advocating, is alien to Zambia and a recipe for conflict.
Speaking on return from South Africa at the Lusaka International Airport on March 12, President Banda said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is the only body mandated by the Constitution to conduct elections and disseminate results.
Mr Banda said countries that had been influenced into conducting PVT have ended up with civil unrest, a thing he did not wish for Zambia.
“We have laws in this country. Parallel Vote Tabulation is a stranger to us, it’s alien. We have never had it before. I wish those advocating it could give us the reasons. In any case, in countries where the same people have tried it, like Ivory Coast, up to now there is conflict,” he said.
The President urged people championing PVT in the forthcoming general elections to respect the laws of the land that have vested these powers in the ECZ.
The President was in South Africa to attend the first-ever Africa Investment Summit at the invitation of a leading global news and information company, Thomson Reuters.
Meanwhile, the ECZ has rejected calls by some organisations advocating a PVT system.
The commission has said it will not endorse a process that has the potential to plunge the country into chaos should the said NGOs mishandle the process.
ECZ public relations manager Chris Akufuna said in a statement yesterday that the commission has strong reservations against PVT because there are some NGOs who have exhibited distinct political inclinations.
Mr Akufuna stated that the commission is skeptical about the NGOs that are politically inclined adhering to procedures regulating the conduct of the elections.
Mr Akufuna explained that ECZ would not be able to absolve itself from possible electoral conflicts and its consequences if the PVT process is mismanaged.
“The commission does not want to endorse a process which, if mishandled, will not absolve itself from the ensuing conflict and consequences because it is the commission that is responsible for all matters pertaining to elections. The commission has strong reservations about the PVT process given the current environment in which there are distinct political inclinations of interested parties and if the PVT is mishandled, could lead to conflict and chaos,” Mr Akufuna said.
He said whilst it is advocated that the results of the PVT would be made known to the commission before publication, ECZ is not convinced that in the current situation there would be adherence to the procedure.
Article 76 of the constitution mandates the ECZ to conduct the presidential and parliamentary elections as well as the local government elections under the Local Government Act Cap 282.
It is the mandate of the ECZ to manage the electoral process and the commission is the only body responsible for the conduct of elections.
The ECZ is the only body mandated to determine as to whether the environment is conducive for any activities pertaining to elections.
Mr Akufuna said that under regulation 15 (6) (f) of the Electoral Act, monitors and observers shall not by themselves or through their organisations declare or disclose the result of any election before the declaration by the commission.
“The commission’s position is that it is solely responsible for the conduct of elections and the announcement/declaration of election results from polling station level. The law clearly provides for the procedure to be undertaken by a person that is dissatisfied or aggrieved by an election result and it is this procedure that should be followed. Even if PVT was to be undertaken, it is the provisions under the law that must be adhered to in the event of a disputed result,” Mr Akufuna said.
Meanwhile, CHIMWEMWE MWALE reports that the Zambia Centre for Inter-Party Dialogue (ZCID) has urged political stakeholders to stick to the existing voting system which has the ECZ as the final and legitimate body to announce election results.
ZCID chairperson Njekwa Anamela said all political parties in the country must recognize the ECZ as a legitimate body and accept the results from its appointed returning officers at polling stations.
Mr Anamela said in an interview with the Sunday Mail that contrary to suggestions by some sections of society the announcements of election results by the ECZ are not controversial.
He said the ZCID has no problems with the ECZ handling and announcing the election results for various candidates as the institution is experienced.
Mr Anamela said the ECZ must be allowed to do its work independently as it is the only credible institution that can announce election data for public consumption.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
In Ivory coast there is conflict due to selfish and useless leadership we ch.i.p.u.b.a. PVT is the way to go for transparency to prevail during elections. What are you fearfull of? Even HH can beat RB straight without rigging. This year is different. God help us and redeem us from these f.o.o.l.s who are only there for their own benefit. We left Zed, our beatifull motherland to earn a better living coz Zambia is only for the priveledged with connections. Manya this time around!
the fact PVT is alien to zambia does not mean we shouldnt use it. the fears of MMD are unfounded. they are also just provoking unneccessay fears from voters.
Mr President, there is alway a ‘first time’ for anything. Are you so afraid of the election outcome that you do not wish stakeholders to use PVT?
Remember Mr President, ‘Only the truth and nothing elso but the truth RB/MMD, will set you free’.
To Sata hoping PVT would deliver him a miracle, Peacefully tell your MPs to take the proposal to parliament and get a legislative vote for it to become constitutional act. Otherwise, that is extra-constitutional vanity option devoid of legality. If illegal, it would never deliver your much dreamed for ballot verdict. Mandate is a constitutional issue which is announced by a constitutional electoral body. As long as Zambian is constitutional democracy, ECZ will announce the ballot verdict then give it to CJ who confers the mandate to the winner.
Both the constitutional court and statutory electoral body- ECZ will just rubbish whatever your Kaponyas on the illegal PVT will cook-up and cheat you with. There are no shortcuts to power but constitutionalism and mandate.
Rupiah what will be recipe for chaos is you insatiable appetite to manipulate the elections & not PVT.
Why is you head so thick such that you cant absorb simple things? Why are you so allergic to democracy?
You outgoing party/govt has used this PVT before. What are you afraid of now iwe mambala?
I beg do differ with my fellow MMD members. PVT will enhance transparence. Please lets looks around us because the level of suspicion in the minds of Zambians is very high. The best way to show them that we have always won clean elections is to ensure that they see clearly themselves. This will prevent unneccessary tensions after elections and will shame the devil once and for all.
IVORY COST IS NOT A GOOD EXAMPLE COZ THAT F O O L CLEARLY LOST LIKE WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU THIS YR. UNLESS U AR SAYING U WILL ALSO REFUSE TO HAND OVER POWER.
Transparency is the key to success in this country Mr Presidnet. The problem is that you are leading a movement of mad dogs like william banda, shikapwasha, dola, namugala hence the fear of transparency.
Ghana used the same system in 2008 and there was no civil unrest.
Zed be careful,Empty Drum Cobra,TIZ,Vuvuzela Membe and Followers want state house at all costs.PVT has great potential to trigger civil unrest.
Check# 5 & 6 Senior Citizen.Free advise which you can “take it or leave it”.
The wishful crusade for PVT in this election is spoiled and advancely rendered irrelevant. As such, in Decision 2011 proposing it hold as unacceptable because evidently it has been promulgated, represented and conspiracely stuffed by a legion of acrimonious cadres inimical to the enduring peace, democracy and constitutional rule of this country.The case for Phillipine and Ghana does not hold here because those behind PVT were and have been independed pro-democracy activists implementing it where as here its a legion anti constitutional nihilists who happen to be signature political cadres. I challenge anyone here to point at any pro-PVT who is not certified political cadre with a trail of extra-constitutional nihilism.Just name one so that we reflect.
The wishful crusade for PVT in this election is spoiled and advancely rendered irrelevant. As such, in Decision 2011 proposing it hold as unacceptable because evidently here it has been promulgated, represented and conspiracely stuffed by a legion of acrimonious cadres inimical to the enduring peace, democracy and constitutional rule of our country.The case for Phillipine and Ghana does not hold here because those behind PVT there have been independent pro-democracy activists impartially implementing it where as here its a legion of anti constitutional nihilists who happen to be signature political cadres. I challenge anyone here to point at any pro-PVT who is not certified political cadre with a trail of extra-constitutional nihilism.Just name one so that we can reflect.
I have a comprehensive list of all cadres behind this nonsense and indeed those designated to make appointments of fellow cadres as PVT monitors. They are certified mono-directional political cadres with proven passion for anarchy, extra-constitutionalism and protruding ignorance on the law. All of them as Gold diggers have no loyalty to the country and its democracy.
when it comes to PF..don’t allow it ..they will cause anarchy!
Senior Citizen hold your fire! Calling others with different opinions “certified political cadres” is not sufficient to convince anyone that PVT is bad. Truth is, all those for and against PVT are all equal stakeholders on this matter. Objective criticism of PVT as a system is what is needed. I want to believe that advocates for PVT want to enhance the election monitoring process by making it more transparent and are in no way saying they will ursurp the powers of managing elections from ECZ. e.g announcing results, etc.
WE ARE READY TO BE ARRESTED TO PROTECT OUR VOTES AND WE WILL FACE THE POLICE.
AKUFUNA IS MISLEADING THE PUBLIC,THEIR IS NO LAW WHICH PROHIBITS PVT.
VIVA SATA 2011.
MMD will win the elections. With no independent adjudicators there’s no transparency. Therefore we should expect those in power to remain there via rigging. Power is an aphrodisiac and not easy to give it up, look at Ivory coast, Zimbabwe etc????? Pvt is the only way of preventing rigging. What are they afraid of?
Why is MMD so scared on PVT? This brings in lots of suspicions. Talking at the airport is still the in thing?? Mr. president learn to let go old-fashioned UNIP behaviors, this is why we can’t even try new things like PVT.
Fuseke chiBanda, you will not be allowed to rig the elections. Tukalulwa bayama.
@SENIOR CITIZEN,if the MMD are convinced that the proponents of PVT are inclined to the opposisition,and they would manipulate the results in favour of the opposition,let the MMD also choose their cadres.There are bunch of NGO’s who are pro MMD to be part of the other NGO’S so that they can prevent any fraud.This is clear evidence that the MMD have been rigging the elections, which country has seen chaos because of PVT?.This year people are wiser,no more ‘internationa tricks’.
On ““We have laws in this country. Parallel Vote Tabulation is a stranger to us, it’s alien. We have never had it before. I wish those advocating it could give us the reasons. In any case, in countries where the same people have tried it, like Ivory Coast, up to now there is conflict,” he [President RB Banda] said” I am very surprised that the whole lot of our President thinks the PVT system is alien to Zambia when the UPND Team has been using it in a form called ‘Mapatizya Formula‘ and also Minister Ronnie Shikapwasha, if Im not mistaken, confirmed last week that PVT was used in the 2001 tripartite elections where it was used by elections monitors to declare that another person (i.e., UPND’s AK Mazoka) won the presidential elections instead of MMD’s LPM…
If ba RB/MMD know the will win 2011 elections,WHY BE SCARED OF PVT system?if SATA was evil,we could have bloodshed in 2006 but the man said NO VOILENCE…MMD should NOT SCARE PIPO that they RISK BEING IN PRISON if they support PVT,this shouldnt be another TRESON CASE LIKE BOROSTE ISSUE.Lets have PVT for FREE/FAIR ELECTIONS.MMD have STOLEN VOTES FROM LATE MAZOKA and SATA in the PREVIOUS ELECTION.To me,MMD is NOLONGER POPULAR ANYMORE
Panting for PVT here is a “self-delusional ruckus” orchestrated by a small league of doomed anarchists.
Chi senior citizen, you have lost objectivity and now you are ranting like a mad dog. No wonder you belong to movement for mad dogs.
PVT was done by MMD when VJ announces results instead of ECZ.Mbita Chitala said he did it last election VJ even got the name chief rigger so all you debating PVT do it with informed minds please to avoid sharing ignorancy as many of our leaders including RB have done.
PVT is a stranger bafikala
PVT is a total stranger Ba.f.i.k.a.l.a.
#29 mind your language, you are not a good citizen,you dont even understand PVT.
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