The Electoral Commission of Zambia has maintained that the Zambia News and Information Services disregarded its instructions when it mounted a Public Address System during the filing of nomination for PF candidate Edgar Lungu.
Chief Government Spokesperson Joseph Katema says ZANIS acted in accordance with the law by providing the public address system to Mr. Lungu during the filing of nomination papers last Saturday.
Dr Katema, who is also Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services, said ZANIS acted in accordance with its mandate of providing communication support to Government officials, at no cost, and acted within the law.
Dr Katema said the news agency was obliged to provide communication services to Mr Lungu, who was in the company of acting President Guy Scott, a government official.
“The Electoral [Code of Conduct] Regulations of 2011, Statutory Instrument No. 52 of 2011, authorise a person serving as President or Vice-President to use such facilities in connection with their respective offices.
“The assertion that ZANIS disadvantaged other candidates by providing the public address system is unfortunate. ZANIS is expected to provide its facilities to any meeting which His Excellency the acting President Dr Guy Scott is expected to attend,” Mr Katema said.
But in an interview, ECZ Spokesman Chris Akufuna said the defence of ZANIS actions by government is unfortunate adding that the Commission takes great exception to Government’s response saying ZANIS was instructed not to mount the public address system for the PF as it had not done so for other candidates.
Mr Akufuna added, “The Commission has a duty to ensure that there is a fair and level playing field through the electoral process in fact during the 2011 presidential nomination, the commission in the same spirit did not allow ZNBC Television to provide live coverage of the lodging of nomination by MMND candidate Mr. Rupiah Banda who was the republican president at the time because ZNBC had not provided for the other presidential candidates. ZANIS acted in clear disregard and authority as an independent body that is solely in charge of the electoral process.”
He continued, “The Acting President was merely in the company of the PF candidate and that the free use of government facilities did not apply in this case.”
“We wish to employ the government not to condone defiance of the authority of the commission as this would undermine the electoral process and disadvantage other stakeholders participating in the election,” he said.
We can only say thank you GOD and the wonderful people of Luwingu for welcoming Team EL2015 to your wonderful home. You have braved the rain, in thousands, and did not look back to support your party, THE PATRIOTIC FRONT.
ALL Club ?#?PF7500? members that are present in Luwingu please hit me with emails as we support our President and team.
We are looking to Chilubi, Mporokoso and Kasama
On 20th January 2015:
VOTE: One Edgar Chagwa Lungu
2015 vote PF(Edgar)
I thank you
Kadondo boys,
Fark you
WHATEVER!! Its past, No one got hurt!! Some things are a waste of time.
Dr. Scott was not in his capacity as acting vice president OF Zambia, but rather as a PF member, hence ZANIS had no right to mount the PA System. This is exactly the abuse of public resources being referred to.
But no disadvantage, people’s minds are made up and that is clear on the ground
VIVA HH 2015
So one can take a commercial break from being acting president? Awe mwe no wonder Zambia and African countries lag behind lol.
Why do these PFools love using “unfortunate” in every sentence? Is it just due to their limited vocabularies or there’s air between their ears?
We know all these lacunas & manoeuvres by the lairs PF.Its HH no matter want. We are tired of arnachial & rampant corruption amidst social economic miseries among the majority voters while the few PF zealots & cadres are having heaven on earth.These elections are so important to any would be voter as Zambia’economic development is totally reversing at a supersonic speed.All that we are witnessing under Lairs Party PF is a failed state-crisis in all spheres of social economic development & policies inimical to promote human development.PF Zwaa zwaaaaaaa. Enough is enough.You have only 24days to prepare to go to court for all the corruption & abuses of office you made in 3years & join Masumba. These loans that you got & corruptly used will be disowned as ODIOUS…
.PF Zwaa zwaaaaaaa. Enough is enough.You have only 24days to prepare to go to court for all the corruption & abuses of office you made in 3years & join Masumba. These loans that you got & corruptly used will be disowned as ODIOUS BEDTS by the HH government.
HAS PF DELIVERED ON THEIR PROMISES? PF has been wasteful in their spending thereby subjecting Zambians to abject poverty. I ask the following: WAT IS IT THAT WE HAVE BENEFITED AS A NATION FROM JUDGE CHIKOPA’S COMMISSION? HOW MUCH WAS INCURRED ON JUDGE CHIKOPA? REMEMBER: IT IS THE ZAMBIAN PIPO THAT WERE FOOTING HIS BILL! CHIKOPA IS NOW VERY RICH. EDGAR LUNGU IS NEVER IN HIS 2 OFFICES AS HE IS CAMPAIGNING FOR HIMSELF. IS HE ON PAID LEAVE OR IS HE ON UNPAID LEAVE OR MAY BE HE HAS NOT SIGNED ANY LEAVE FORM AT ALL? WHERE IS MORALITY IN BEING PAID FOR NOT WORKING FOR YO MASTER? EDGAR AS OF NOW IS MOONLIGHTING; TRYING HIS LUCK TO SOLICIT FOR VOTES. SCOTT, U ARE AS MUCH ZAMBIAN AS I AM BUT U KAM FROM A RACE THAT IS MORE HONEST THAN MY RACE. CAN U PROVIDE HONEST ANSWERS TO MY QUESTIONS PLZ.
I think it has become a culture in Zambia fr any party in power to abuse public resources for their own benefits. As stated in the article, there we were with MMD enjoying all the privilages but lost to the opposition PF at the time in 2011. It is only fair that we become fair while in government and when out because always chances are high that you will one day find yourself in the opposition. It is just like disiregarding the conditions of prisons and CELLS in police station. It is only one day you will spend a day in any of these establishments. So when you have the authority to improve on certain things for the good of the general citizenery do it, you never know when you will be the agrieved. Let us follow the ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT VERY SERIOUSLY all of us from all parties.
Don’t waste time on irrelevant things. RB had all the covering, but lost. Edgar will win because the majority want him to succeed Sata. Kwamana, Kufelile, Kunahu, Kwasila, Chapwa, mwanhwa basankwa.
Good ECZ, put your foot down.
The Minister expects us to believe him when he is on record telling the people of Zambia lies about the health of their beloved President Sata. Sorry Bwana Minister Katema, you have betrayed our trust and we don’t believe you anymore, tell those lies to yourself because we are hearing but not listening to you.