THE opposition MMD and United Party for National Development (UPND) insist they will go ahead to field their already adopted candidates for next month’s by-elections despite a ban enforced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on the eligibility of candidates whose seats have been nullified because of corruption.
The two opposition parties have been enraged by the ECZ’s decision and have accused the Government of engaging in machinations to stop them from taking part in by-elections, with their intended candidates.
The ban automatically disqualifies MMD candidate Dora Siliya from recontesting her Petauke Central seat, Maxwell Mwale who had defected to the UPND, also from recontesting the Malambo seat and Hastings Sililo for the Mulobezi seat.
MMD president Nevers Mumba in an interview in Lusaka yesterday described the decision to bar its candidate as illegal and that it was not consistent with the law.
“We are going ahead to field our already adopted candidates. This announcement is illegal and unconstitutional, there is no irregularity here. These are just political machinations by the PF and we will not be part of this failed State. On our side nothing has changed,” Dr Mumba said.
Similarly, UPND general secretary Winston Chibwe said his party did not agree with the interpretation of the law by the Judiciary.
Mr Chibwe in a separate interview said the action was not in good faith and accused the Government of exerting pressure on the Judiciary to act on the matter.
Mr Chibwe said the UPND was determining its next course of action but that it would not field-in new candidates.
“We don’t agree, this is an archaic law. As for our next course of action, we are yet to inform the nation, but we are going ahead with the same candidates, nothing has changed,” Mr Chibwe said. “This is the work of the PF and I would have expected some members of the Judiciary to step down, they are acting under pressure from the PF but we are standing our ground and we will contest with our adopted candidates,” he said.
ECZ public relations manager Sylvia Bwalya announced on Saturday that the electoral body would abide by the Judiciary’s interpretation of the law, that candidates were ineligible to re-contest their seats after losing them on corruption grounds.
“We received the official notification through the registrar and basing on what was reported, we will not receive nominations from the three candidates on Tuesday, when the filing of nominations will be done,” Ms Bwalya said.
The opposition candidates that had been adopted have had their seats nullified by the Supreme Court on charges of corruption and electoral wrongdoing.
On Thursday last week, the Judiciary in a statement issued by public relations officer, Terry Musonda, said candidates whose seats had been nullified by the Supreme Court for corrupt or illegal practices could not take part in the by-elections arising from such nullifications.
The Judiciary stated that every judgment passed by the Supreme Court was binding on all institutions, including the ECZ and general public.
The statement followed ECZ’s insistence that it could not disqualify such candidates without official notification from the High Court as per requirement by the law.
The Anti-Corruption Commission also voiced its stance, stating that under the law, it was against the Electoral Act to field a candidate whose seat had been nullified for corrupt practices.
bola yavuta .. mwe
Sad developments and one wonders as to where are we going with this circus? We have so many chimbwi no plans and all these recycled politicians including Sata should be discarded we need new crop of politicians.
The opposition may not agree with the judiciary’s interpretation of the law, but they have to respect the decision. That’s how it goes
The opposition parties have such a mammoth legal challenge, because the Supreme Court decision is binding on ALL Institutions. So what legal recourse do they have?
Interesting scenario!!
I can’t think. So all these years no one has been following the law?
Fp wawa ulemwenako fp/pf we go ahead as we’ve planned haleisa haleisa wapya munziiiii!!!
The problem is that PF thought the opposition was dead because the enjoyed a brief period of being popular.
The boat is sinking and the next two years are going to be very hard for PF. If Ukwa exchanging urine bags in bed… his ministers are like headless chickens. Its clear no cabinet meeting takes place as anyone can say anything…
2016 will be sweet
You are a ****! *****! Viva PF.
Its high time you started thinking,fumya ubuwelewele mumutwe. Fellow patriotic Zambians,MPs are law makers and NOT law breakers anyone with that history of law breaking in any way must never be entertained in our politics if we are to move together with this party which is extremely doing well so far.You have eyes but you can’t see.” My people are dying because of ignorance”,. We the people are seeing clear, graduates from the Sata academy can understand the real politics of today.
And with the upcoming state funeral the headless chickens are showing signs of desperation
SO WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU ARE GOING TO DO? BOMA NI BOMA. JUST LOOK FOR OTHER CANDIDATES OR PF WILL GO INTO THESE ELECTIONS WITH CHIPIMO AND UNIP. IN THIS CASE THERE IS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING YOU CAN DO. THE COURT HAS PASSED THE FINAL JUDGEMENT. CORRUPTION IS CORRUPTION. IF IT WAS OTHER ISSUES, YOU COULD HAVE BEEN SUPPORTED BUT NOT CORRUPTION. AND WHY DO YOU WANT TO CLING ON CORRUPT ELEMENTS? DOES IT MEAN UPND AND MMD HAVE NO CREDIBLE PEOPLE TO STAND OTHER THAN THESE. COME 2016, YOU WILL CRY LIKE MORGAN OF ZIM.
ENGINEER, YOU DREAM A LOT !!! TOO MUCH IFILOTO ! I HOPE YOU WILL NOT BE HAUNTED BY THE OTHER DREAM TO SEE PF BACK AT THE HELM OF POWER IN 2016. ANYWAY GOOD LUCK!
Fake engineer from Kalingalinga, If wiso is the one exchanging urine bags in bed, do not generalise. Kabwalala ushibeya amaso.
THE OPPOSITION SHOULD NOT FIELD CANDIDATES WHO ARE INELIGIBLE. THEY WILL STAND TO LOSE BIG TIME. THEY STILL HAVE A LOT OF CHANCE TO ACTUALLY WIN EVEN WITH OTHER CANDIDATES. OF COURSE THE ECZ HAS NOT PROVIDED GOOD GUIDANCE HERE. THEY LOOK BIASED.
what is going on in Zambia? do we need another colonial master.
i heard the other day the budget has failed and today the judiciary has lamentably failed, Sata Sata Sata, how many times have i called you? is this the leadership you promised my grandmother in 90 days?
i expected you to hold an indaba or a press conference on which you were supposed to humbly tell your electorate the poor people the meaning of those promises but all we hear is Kabimba has dissolved the ntwenukane province,over what? Sata open your eyes and show some leadership. infact appoint me as your advisor but i don’t want what happened to Clive Chirwa
Just wondering, what is the job of officials in parties and cabinet and the president. Who is the PR?
Secondly, why have a PR but someone else does the job?
ECZ is right to ban those fellows, now we know that they made a mistake on other by elections so lets not continue the same mistakes we move with what the law says for the past it happened and lets move on. Meanwhile MMD and UPND please replace those candidates now otherwise u will not field them we promise to bring heavy police and beat anyone who will cause confusion
Beat? Anyoko you should be ashamed of yourself. We are now in the 21st century and your backward ass thinks ‘beating’ is the solution?
People like you don’t have a single patriotic bone in your body. I hope your brothers, husband, sisters, uncles, particularly the ones that lend you money are present on that day.
At this moment anything,NAREP,MMD or the other parties would be a Godsend to save Zambia from the jaws of selfish,destructive and clueless PF. We should be ashamed that Singapore which is 50yrs old has badly exposed our underachievement.
This arrogance by the opposition will cost them the bye-election. Come election day their candidates names will not be on the ballot.
Sata taking us back to stone age. To problems of Zimbabwe.
Mugabe is clever, he is propping up SATA to be a rude president so that attention is shifted from Zimbabwe to Zambia.
hai @ 9 do you people think that the president listens to whatever other people tell him? ive heard other bloggers saying its membe rulling the country from bwinjimfumu, now you saying its mugabe, why not debate what the story is about? the ecz has spoken following the ruling from the supreme court whille people continue attacking sata and PF, who is not upholding the rule of law?
Funny how the opposition is quick to praise the e.c.z when decisions seems to favour them but quick to demonize them when the opposite happens.Very funny characters.
Whose been calling for a change of personnel at ECZ? The PF or Opposition and why?
What has “the opposition” got to do with it? You can say the exact same thing about PF!
PLEASE PASTOR GO AHEAD,
WHY NOT TEST THE SYSTEM TO THE END?
SUDAN ALSO FIELDED BANNED PLAYERS! WHICH MADE US GET FREE POINTS ON A SILVER PLATTER.
SOCCER PA ZAMBIA YA BIPA, BANE!
THE PASTOR SAYS HE HAS NO SUBSTITUTES ON THE BENCH…HE HAS USED ALL ALLOWED BY THE RULES
RED CARD OR 2 YELLOW CARDS…
PLAYERS MUST PLAY.
Every time you think this Nevers Mumba is coming around he just lets you down. Its not a wonder he is not in state house. He must be truly stupi.d to further give PF a free seat in parliament. looking at eastern province he has the best chance of beating Pf pants down even with another candidate supported by the nullified MP’s and endorsement to the voters by them. We need an active democracy and we don’t have thinking opposition. What a shame. Nevers use your head please. Don’t just look down.
iwe you are missing the train here!!! information from the ground is that PF want those seats unoppossed or with very weak competition,, that gimick they used in kafulafuta mwanawasa`s sister or sometime similar can be used by PF to get the goal!!! so MMD and UPND playing it tight closer to their chest.. so the they (MMD& UPND) are anouncing and pointing at Dora and others while they have a well guarded suprise (Not Dora and company)
DEAR NEVERS AND HH
Here is my advice for the progressive way forward.
Get fresh candidates for these seats quickly and contest.
PF INTIMIDATED ECZ and the PF intimidated JUDICIALLY WILL HAVE NO MUCH INFLUENCE ON THE OUTCOME OF RESULTS.
AS THINGS STAND NOW YOU ARE FIGHTING A LOSING BATTLE IF YOU FIELD THE BARRED GUYS.
Why do so many people write/say “Judicially”?
It’s a silly mistake, acceptable in speech since people do mispronounce ‘r’ and ‘l’. But to WRITE it is just exponentially stupid.
The opposition should just find other people otherwise they will waste their time because nominations of barred candidates will not be accepted. They shld not forget what happened when UNIP boycotted elections.
The supreme court was indeed under political pressure. The 3 candidates by stated law therein were not guilty of corruption otherwise the court could have convicted them as the law says they cud have been fined k2000-k5000 and bared for 2years. Pf pressure must be condemned practically.
LETS WATCH AND SEE
Unless Nevers and HH are the definition of st+++pi+++ty they will field other candidates but use such rhetoric to put pressure in the system. This case cannot succeed in the Courts of Law since the Supreme Court CJ has already passed ‘judgment’ via the infamous statement. Mark my words.
Remember, boycotts are not for the political turf. Ask KK’s UNIP and Morgan’s MDC.
Politics
I SEE THE REASON WHY THE BIBLE SAYS THE LAW IS GOOD.HOPE IT WILL STAND TO BE GOOD EVEN WHEN PF IS OUT OF GOVERNMENT. UNCLE HH WHY ARE U SO MUTE WHEN WE REALLY NEED YO OUTSPOKEN VOICE OF HOPE TO MOTHER ZAMBIA
My advice to MMD and UPND is that they field candidates other than the persecuted individuals. Do not argue with a fool otherwise people will not notice the difference. We know that Zambia has gone to the dogs literary. In this country the law is only what PF wants, that’s why corruption is corruption only when not committed by PF ministers. Let Dora and Mwale support the new candidates to prove to PF that their days are numbered.
Or apply to the high court to order a postponement to allow a judicial review in regard to this mis-rule by PF’s Chibesakunda.
I might not be in agreement with the way things are being done but i would advise UPND and MMD to find alternative candidates for the seats which were nullified due to electoral malpractice…We have precedence of such been done before when you talk of Michael Mabenga he watched from the terraces for 5 years after the Supreme Court decision and i would therefore suggest they field other candidates as a loss to the lesser candidates will inflict greater pain on the PF and show them that things ain’t right and us the people are not happy.
all animals are equal but….animal farm situatin.
whats the name of that clever pig once again…
is it squaela…thats pf.nayo nayo.
Be wise . Bet a step ahead . You are dealing with mafias. Get new candidates. Use your barred candidates as campaiign material. IF YOU IGNORE THAT ADVSE YOU WILL CRY.
The A/cj statement was not a judgement but arose frm pf political pressure. Equally ecz went ahead to bar the 3 without following the law but it too under pf political bashing. Watever ecz received frm court was not conclusive and cannot be relied on because the 3 were and are not convicted of corruption. They are Not fined and are not barred ecz can only bar them if they paid the fine and barred by court but the court never passed ‘the fine and barring’ sentence at the time of nullifying the seats. Why now? Desparate and abominable pf pressure exerted on the court’s a/cj and ecz shudnt be the law never!
MMD and UPND, you mean you don’t have any candidates who can stand for the by-elections. It seems you are not serious. We will stop supporting you and in the end don’t complain if there will be no opposition parties. I have got a intellient young women and man you can replace. It seems you are losing direction. VERY SAD INDEED…..
I am sure they have alternate candidates.MMD and UPND should then use the barred candidates to campaign to VICTORY. We shall CONQUER NO MATTER WHAT.
MMD and Upnd are realy kids. forget about those corrupt pipo and field others. U can’t c this because u are led by pipo who are questionable. We’II see where YO punch for punch will take u. I YO KWENA MULITUMA POLITICAL UNDER 5!
Totally pointless stand taken by the opposition. Like breasts on a fish.
These two parties are lead by corrupt leaders that is why they can’t see anything wrong with their candidates
What crop of opposition do we have today? I wonder how the claimed educated people are failing to understand a simple law which even primary school pupils can understand? The electoral code of conduct is very clear. A seat nullified for corruption reasons shall not be re- contested by the same corrupt person who held it before nullification. So simple indeed.
I urge UPND and MMD to find other clean people to field period.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
Am disappointed with MMD and UPND.is it lack of leaders or candidates? show the nation that you got leaders in abanduncy and you can form government,
have confidence in your people. let it not be for the person but the party. get the example from PF they were listening from people on the ground to choose candidates when in opposition without relying on big names.
IS THERE IS ANYTHING WRONG IN FIELDING INELIGIBLE PLAYERS..?
SUDAN TRIED IT AND THEY WON…BUT WE GAVE ALL THE THREE POINTS TO ZAMBIA!
TRY IT, PASTOR, TRY IT IN A POLITICAL GAME….
Yaba! they thought they were smart ! Baice imweeeeeee! fwe bakale tuli bakali ! Watch this space…………. by the time you will be fighting in Court, the seats will have gone to P.F.
You sound so base. And primitive.
Sata is such an id.iotic President Africa has ever seen.
U remembr 1996 UNIP boycoted genral elections,& wht hapend?The end of UNIP.So HH & Mumba ve no capable felows to replace bared candidates?Fr HH infact its a stolen candidate him has none yet the chap busy masquerading tht has countrywide suport!Prove it politcal arena!For mai bokosi jst concetrate on Zamtel scandals,Airport tender floutng & culminating abuse of authority.
africa ooh africa bondage through all your years, no clear vision ,leadership confusions all across the continent,is this the’ bible ham cursing’
As much as I do not support the PF led govt, I think the opposition can do better than this mediocre type of arrangement. We cannot all disrespect the law just because a few disgruntled politicians are doing it. Fielding in those barred people will just result in them not being counted and ECZ not printing any ballots for them period. Nevers should think twice because what they are intending to is fighting a losing battle. We really need to build a school for these politicians!
President Mumba, please go to God and seek His wisdom. Read James 3 vs 13-18.
I do not agree with the manipulation of the law either but I also do not agree with setting a precedent of allowing corrupt people to stand for an election. Accepting the “ruling” by the judicature would have put the opposition in a much better position. My view is that a judicial interpretation should be awaited and adhered to. This would also fix PF as the same law would soon catch up with them too. There are no sacred cows, whether in the ruling party or opposition. As zambians we are not there to fight for “individual” interests but for the public good and democracy.
I am afraid I chose to differ with the opposition parties here.
I think the opposition is mistaken. These seats were nullified by the courts based on corrupt practices by these candidates. Let us not accept corruption by anyone, opposition or ruling party. In this case let the opposition just adopt new candidates and win the same seats. That way they will teach PF a lesson. Dora and Mwale should vigorously campaigne for their new candidates. They will miss parliament but can come back after been cleared of corruption. This is a smart tactic by PF to just take these seats. Dont allow that. Only way forward is to field new candidates.
What we have here is a confused gov’t and an equally disorganised opposition…in all honesty where do they intend to go with this stance.
Time is ticking . lf u the opo won’t find other candidates u have to blame yourselves.
UPND and MMD have already chosen other candidates,…!1 They are just trying to mock PF..!! They already anticipated this from PF…But be informed, who ever UPND field in these elections, they will win easily…,,,mark my words…!!!
Dada,, you are such an ***** person,,,is this problem created by HH or want….you should ask your grandmother to teach you lessons how to behave especially when debating in public domain this one fool…!!!
Pastor Mumba please tone down…..
In the 2001 elections, Sikota Wina, petitioned the election of Michael Mabenga as member of parliament for Mulobezi.
The court found Mabenga to have engaged in corrupt or illegal electoral practices and had his election nullified.
Mabenga could not re-contest that seat.
MMD spokesperson, Benny Tetamashimba, has warned that party members of Parliament (MPs) whose seats are nullified because of corrupt practices will not be adopted to re-contest their seats.
In an interview in Lusaka yesterday, Mr Tetamashimba warned that the party would not allow anybody to contest parliamentary elections on its ticket after losing their seats because of corrupt practices because that contradicted the MMD’s anti-corruption drive.
“If anybody will have a seat nullified and it is attributed to corruption, that person will not be allowed to stand because we are fighting corruption,†Mr Tetamashimba said.
Commenting on the Kapoche constituency parliamentary by-election set for June 5, 2007, Mr Tetamashimba said former Deputy Minister of Community Development…
The people need to be practical. Much as the pronouncement by the Judiciary is illegal as it stands they cannot force ECZ to accept proposed nominees unless they have a court order. That is what they should be concentrating on doing now. In fact, they should have sought the injunction over the weekend.
I am sure the opposition have an ace up their sleeve. Can’t believe otherwise.
I am in support of the idea to field the same candidates so that we can complete the evil cycle of PF’s lunatic kind of governance. It is important for us to have concrete evidence so that its easy to show that Zambia is being ruled by a clique of evil people!
On the other hand, UPND and MMD must try to apply one of the principles similar to defensive driving whereby you choose to drive on a wrong side in order to avoid hitting and killing the lunatic playing on the highway!
I’m gonna say this again: at least Nevers is making a strong presence even if you don’t agree with his chosen course of action.
Where’s HH? He is not too important to speak to the masses yet. People don’t know this spokesperson and dont need to hear through a spokesperson at this point. HH should be taking every opportunity to be seen and heard. People need to hear from HIM more often and more strongly. Not this issue-a-lukewarm-statement-every-blue-moon style. Stop this spokesperson nonsense. It’s not time yet.
Same for anyone else in opposition.
Your comment is awaiting moderation. – just because I strung some words together using hyphens.
I’m gonna say this again: at least Nevers is making a strong presence even if you don’t agree with his chosen course of action.
Where’s HH? He is not too important to speak to the masses yet. People don’t know this spokesperson and dont need to hear through a spokesperson at this point. HH should be taking every opportunity to be seen and heard. People need to hear from HIM more often and more strongly. Not this issuing of lukewarm statement every blue moon and then silence. Stop this spokesperson nonsense. It’s not time yet.
Same for anyone else in opposition.
Ok nice topic, so how far have we gone with the cases of bicycle theft by Gabriel Namulambe and a forged certicficate by Dancing king Masumba, what is the ECZ thinking about those two cases or has the courts of law decided to sicontinue the cases because the two guys are now PF, kindly guide me on these concerns
Looking at the number and manner in which bye-elections are being conducted, why cant we just go for early elections?The supreme court could as well just declare the 2011 elections a sham.We are not moving foward, still stuck or drunk with the excitement or pain associated with winning and losing an election.If the desire is to have a large following what are you going to do them? Serve them or consolidate your gains so that you become immovable? Suppress or uplift them? What is the motive of what we do as a people.OF WHAT BENEFIT IS IT TO PRESIDE OVER THE AFFAIRS OF A COMPANY THAT IS VISION-LESS AND AND NOT DOING FINE?
I hope have the opposite have a trick up their sleeve all else they will be crying like that imbecile Tsvangirai.
You have made me hungry. Nice name, though I don’t think I’ve had rhubarb salad. Will be looking to Oder it next time I eat out.