Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson, Justice Ireen Mambilima, has observed that the public media have been abrogating the Electoral Code of conduct as it provides unbalanced coverage of news among political parties.
Speaking during a youth conference against electoral malpractice and violence under the theme, Support Peaceful Elections, Justice Mambilima noted that the public media have been biased towards the ruling party as observed in the 2006 and 2011 general elections.
She noted that even during the nominations for the Chipata Central Constituency by elections last Thursday, the public media covered the ruling PF while the opposition political parties were not covered.
Justice Mambilima said that the national broadcaster, ZNBC, only aired the filing in of nominations by the PF candidate, Lameck Mangani, and not the other four parliamentary hopefuls.
She stated that the ECZ intends to discuss the matter with ZNBC and noted that it was unfair for the media to show biasness towards one political party.
She, however, stated that the ECZ has not been experiencing such problems with the private media.
Meanwhile, Justice Mambilima has called on youths to promote peaceful elections as they go to the polls on July 25, 2013.
Justice Mambila said youths have a role to play to ensure elections are held in a conducive environment in the district by refraining from engaging in violent activities which could influence apathy.
She said the commission has notice that most youths are vulnerable as they are used as tools of violence during elections.
“You should not allow them to use you to settle their political scores. They cannot allow their children to engage in such activities because they know it has repercussions,” she said.
Justice Mambilima stated that the commission is committed to ensure violent free elections by engaging youths in the electoral process, adding that they should also encourage others to register and also participate in the elections of the country.
She said youths were the future of the nation such that they should be responsible to uphold the peace the country was enjoying.
Justice Mambilima said youths should be ambassadors of peace and stressed the need for them to share the knowledge acquired from the interaction with their colleagues who did not have the opportunity.
“When you engage in a violent acts, you scare away voters, hence the need for you to desist from violence during campaigns and to the run up to the polling day,’’ he added.
Justice Mambilima also urged all political parties to be tolerant with each other to avoid misunderstandings characterized during elections by engaging in issue-based campaigns.
She said there is need for tolerance among political players, adding that she expected violent-free elections in Chipata central.
Justice Mambilima said the forefathers already shed blood for the country and that there was no need for youths to die but what was required is to consolidate the democracy that the country was enjoying.
And Justice Mambilima said ECZ is an independent body that does not succumb to pressure from both the ruling and the opposition political parties.
Justice Mambilima said the commission enjoys being an autonomous electoral management body promoting democratic governance by conducting elections according to the law.
And speaking at the same function ECZ Director, Priscilla Isaacs, said the when the commission met traditional leaders earlier this week, chiefs raised a concern of youths who were being ferried from town during campaigns.
Ms Isaacs said the chiefs complained that drunken youths from town caused violence in rural communities during times of elections.
She said from the meeting it was expected that the youths would come out untied.
ZANIS
This should have been the the Chief Justice or is it the Chief Justice in waiting
We tired of Sata’s women and his gender based appointments!
You are so right Justice Mambilima ! I have had the same view.
me too, she is the chief justice material.
True that.
She has been very consistent thru and thru this judge. Not easily swayed by immoral temptations, unlike other justices we know. God bless and protect u from evil, amen
Refreshing to hear this view from a senior government official. Our brother Chibamba Kanyama is suddenly unable to notice that his ZNBC is going back to the period before the 2011 elections when they completely blacked out the opposition. Rather sad. Mr Kanyama, ALL Zambians, regardless of political affiliation, are tax payers and pay the TV levy. How could you, an intellectual, be so unfair. It is unethical.
Well said madam justice! That’s what we want! A woman who is brave to talk about the reality without fearing lose of job. Not these fake justices- chief chibesakunda
The biggest problem is the mentality of our youths,surprisingly some have been to unza.
The zedian culture still inclines us to colonial mentality fighting each other while the politicians children are advancing their education.
Come on .
The justice may be right but on the filing of nominations for chipata central I disagree with her.All candidates were shown in the clip.
it is true let them work like proffessionals
but madam dont you think this is a seed MMD planted? and to tell you the truth today,s ZNBC is different from the days of MMD.Atleast this time we have different opposition political parties given coverage unlike those days of Ronnie shikapwasha were we only had chanda chimba on TV.You never voiced out but today you want to sound like you care for the opposition.This is a lesson we have to learn in life.
Please madam, explain why you call these elections “free and fair”. Elections are now becoming a mockery and soon there will be very high levels of apathy.
THE BEST MESSAGE BEFITTING THE HEROES & UNITY HOLIDAYS.JUSTICE MAMBILIMA
THIS IS WHAT WE CALL JUSTICE.WHO SAID WE HAVE NO HEROINES IN THIS COUNTRY.
Public media cover government programs as required under existing legislation. At the same time private activities, including opposition campaigns are also covered. However, it is generally difficult to satisfy both sets of interests. That is where private media come in to fill the gap. Private media do not devote enough time to highlighting achievements of government. Ig government expected private media houses to do that, then that would be wrong.
No s**t Sherlock?
Its true and unfortunate. These media heads thought t it was child’s play when they took over from their predessors (sp). Govts will ever champion their cause no matter wat. BA lubinda mulikwi u came with a bang balimisusula umuchila kuli ka winter akaice. Woooooh eating with both hands.
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