The peace and stability that characterized the just ended Kapiri Mposhi and Lukulu West parliamentary by-elections signifies that there is a renewed sense of “political maturity” in Zambia, Information and Broadcasting Services Deputy Minister Mwansa Kapeya said.
Mr Kapeya said yesterday that the Government was encouraged that electoral violence could now be a thing of the past as political players have seen the need to uphold maturity in fostering the country’s democratic system of governance.
“The manner in which these elections were conducted is a sign that there is political maturity and this is encouraging, because then we will continue to witness the growth of a democratic Zambia,” he said.
Mean while Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director McDonald Chipenzi has hailed the political parties that contested the by-elections for ensuring a violent free atmosphere by promoting tolerance and coexistence through the entire election trail.
“The contesting parties should be commended for exhibiting maturity, tolerance and co-existence. What we have witnessed in the just ended by-elections is encouraging because the Zambian electoral process will continue to be envied by the international community,” he said.
Mr Chipenzi however said the organisation was concerned that voter apathy had continued to pose a threat to the country’s democracy further sparking fears of an unleveled political playing field.
In a separate interview, Anti-Voter Apathy project (AVAP) executive director Ridgewell Mulwani said there is need for stakeholders to come to the fold and help the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) step up voter education campaigns.
“Voting is a right which every citizen should exercise and value. Kapiri-Mposhi had 84, 000 registered voters but only 12, 000 voted. In Lukulu west only 5,922 out of 11,889 voted. These margins are too wide and stakeholders need to mobilize themselves and help the ECZ curb voter apathy,” he said.
The Lukulu West seat was scooped by United National Independence Party (UPND’s) Misheck Mutelo while the Kapiri Mposhi seat went to Patriotic Front (PF’s) Eddie Musonda.
Mr Mutelo polled 3,894 votes, beating PF’s Eileen Imbwae with 1,896 and United Liberal Party (ULP’s) Mubita Sikwa who had 61 votes.
In Kapiri Mposhi, Mr Musonda had 6,614 votes, followed by Mr Zimba with 5, 470 votes and UNIP’s Francis Mwape who had 1443 votes.
Both seats became vacant after nullification by the Supreme Court, following election petitions that cited electoral malpractices during the 2011 general elections.
Reporting you to the commonwealth has certainly helped in curbing PF’s violent instincts. The World is watching.
Kudos to the opposition for helping tame the Hyenas! Thanks also to Standard and Poor for pointing out the deteriorating political situation under Sata’s misrule. At least the world is watching. It is important that peace and democracy loving Zambians remain vigilant so that the little freedoms they enjoy are not taken away by this rapacious, nepotistic and tribal PF regime!
It is because people who talk too much crap (Sylvior Masebo), those who carry guns and shoot around (Sata’s bodyguard or principal advisor), those that like fighting (Obvious Mwaliteta), those that fun violence by deliberately mass communicating misleading insinuations of violence by opposition parties (Post Newspaper) didn’t do so.
Kapeya, if your PF stop bring violent, and you stop the police from protecting violent people in PF, there will b no violence in the country, simple!!!
Something mature for a change. I wish Ministers would issue statements like this more often.
The only way to go! We cant allow a politician, who even not much our intelligence, to eat amasuku on our heads. That’s now a by-gone. Viva zambiana! Proven to them that we are no longer interested