The upwards adjustment in nomination fees by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has been received with mixed feelings by aspiring parliamentary candidates.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has increased the presidential nomination fee from K10, 000 to K75, 000 while the nomination fee for parliamentary candidates has been increased from K5, 000 to K10, 000.
Patrick Mungo who is eying the Munali seat feels this will bring sanity and seriousness among those aspiring to be the people’s representatives in various constituencies.
But Roy Hamalyang’ombe who is vying for the Moomba parliament seat in Monze feels the increase is an injury to democracy.
And Clement Tembo the aspiring candidate for Kabwata feels there is nothing wrong with the revised nomination fee as political parties may fund candidates who cannot afford to raise the money.
Meanwhile, Allan Sakala another aspirant for Munali constituency says as a youth, he feels the hike in the nomination fee will work against young people who do not have the financial muscle but are ready to offer service to the nation.
While aspiring MPs feel the fees are too high, when they get elected they want to get allowances way above what the same economy they are complaining about can sustain, what hypocrisy. The fees should be increased even more to emulate how much MPs get in gratuity.