The Foundation for Democratic Process FODEP has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia to consider holding the Senga Hill parliamentary by-election together with the Chawama and Masaiti parliamentary by -elections.
FODEP Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi says holding the nullified Senga Hills by- elections will save time and resources as the disposal of the electoral related cases has taken long hence the need to have the election together with the other two by-elections.
And Mr. Chipenzi has observed that enacting the new constitution will cut on length court proceedings for electoral cases as it gives powers to the ECZ to expeditiously deal with the cases.
He explained that such issues gives impetus to the demands for the new people driven constitution saying this is the reason we need to have a new constitution that establishes fast track tribunals or courts to hear and conclude electoral petitions in an expeditious manner as opposed to lengthy conventional court processes.
He further said the current system is an injustice as one is made to save for 4 years drawing a salary and other benefits including midterm gratuity before another election is called for within 90days regardless of the time remaining to complete the term.
Below is the full statement issued by FODEP.
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has is appealing to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to hold the Senga Hill parliamentary by-election which has been nullified by the Court together with the Chamawa and Masaiti parliamentary by-elections to save resources.
The lengthy court process which has characterized the disposal of electoral related cases against the 180 days stipulated in the electoral Act is great concern. This is the reason we need to have a new constitution that establishes fast track electoral tribunals or courts to hear and conclude electoral petitions in an expeditious manner instead of this lengthy conventional court process which does not take into count the limited time elected leaders are supposed to serve in parliament or as president.
This is an injustice as one is made to serve for 4 years, drawing a pay and other benefits including midterm gratuity and a year before another election, his/her election is nullified based on electoral malpractices or and corruption and a by-elections is called to fill the vacancy in 90 days despite the few number of days remaining for another election in this case about 18 months.
What more to the petitioner who is to wait for 4 years to have his/her electoral case concluded. Zambians, let us unite and demand for a constitution that promote justice and prudence use of the meager resources.
Let the pf grant us the constitution let lungu site with his friends and discuss the matter and then give us the constitution anon!!!
ECZ is a claque of nonsensical manions!!! becuase the reason why it dosnt want to hold by elections at the same time they want to be receiving allowances in every by election.ECZ is a chamber of greedy *****s like priscla iscaacs an allien corrupt ECZ director.
mabilima is lungus concubine!!!!!
Police in Delhi arrested four men on Friday in connection with the alleged gangrape of a Nigerian woman in a moving car, the latest in a series of sex attacks in the Indian capital.
The 35-year-old, who has been staying in India on a tourist visa, told police the men kidnapped her after midnight on Friday morning outside a popular shopping mall in New Delhi’s Saket area before bundling her into a car.
They then drove for around half an hour, during which time the alleged gangrape took place, before pushing her out of the vehicle.
The woman, who cannot be named, was finally rescued after a passerby spotted her on the side of the road in Mayur Vihar, around 20 kilometres (12 miles) away in east Delhi.
“We have received a complaint from the woman and investigations are ongoing,”…
why shud we spend millions of kwacha printing ballot papers outside zambia when government printers can do it. All we need is political parties to be there when printing ballot papers. its high time we started creating employment for zambians
Anything with E C Z abbreviation is queer. It deviates from what is expected normal.
Electoral malpractices should be reported and sorted out even before elections are held. This should be part of ECZ’s mandate. Culprits should never be allowed to be elected.
Parliamentary term (& presidential) should commence two months after elections to allow for sorting out of issues that are spotted after elections.
Good suggestion
ECZ is bunch of criminals
Mcdonald the problem in Zambia is that professionalism is now alien allowances is the in thing
This Mc whatever chipenzi is an up and down carder!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!