Foundation for Democratic Process has welcomed the suspension of political campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala districts.
FODEP Acting Executive Director 
said this is so because of unprecedented levels of violence and intolerance among political players especially between the two major political parties PF and UPND.
Mr Mwenge said this action has been long overdue because of continued violence and other forms of behaviour that violate the electoral code of conduct and other electoral authorities that govern the entire electoral process.
“It is our hope the suspension will help restore order, peace and unity in the campaigns following violence that was being perpetrated by some political parties. It is within the powers of the ECZ section 28 (2) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016 where the commission is empowered to suspend campaigns,” Mr Mwenge said.
“The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has got adequate powers within its mandate to correct wrongs. Therefore, the ECZ must enforce provisions of the Electoral Process Act firmly and fairly during political campaigns.”
Mr Mwenge said FODEP has observed political parties that are perpetrating violence are known widely by various stakeholders including the ECZ itself.
“Therefore, the ECZ must summon these violent political parties and punish them individually unlike the current situation where campaigns are suspended for all parties including those that are not involved in violence. FODEP calls for quick finalisations of the Statutory Instrument on the disqualification of political parties or candidates that are abrogating the electoral laws from participating in elections.”
Meanwhile, Mr Mwenge has condemned in the strongest words possible, the shooting of UPND members on 8th July, 2016 in which Mapenzi Chibulo was killed and several others were injured.
Mr Mwenge said this happened when the UPND went on an illegal procession after their rally in Lusaka’s Chawama Township was cancelled because of security risks.
“The action by the Zambia Police service amounted to excessive force, which was unnecessary. The police are expected to act professionally under such circumstances and to also enforce provisions of the Public Order Act fairly to avoid confrontations with political parties,” he said.
“We call upon the investigative wings of the government and institutions of democracy such as the Human Rights Commission to immediately and speedily institute a probe into the shooting incident as it is a gross violation of human rights. Particularly, the Human Rights Commission must execute its functions of investigating mal-administration and violation of human rights.”
“On the other hand, FODEP would also like to advise the UPND against any form of confrontation that endangers the lives of its members. The fracas with the police would have been avoided had the UPND not taken to an illegal procession and fighting with the police,” he said.
Mr Mwenge said it is important for political parties to act within the provisions of relevant laws such as the Public Order Act and the Electoral Process Act to avoid conflicts during political campaigns that are taking place across the country.
“FODEP would like to reiterate its clarion call for peace, unity and reconciliation during this period of campaigning in order to have general elections that are not only free and fair on August 11, 2016 but also participatory, legitimate, transparent and credible. It is unnecessary to fight and kill one another just because of an election when we have an opportunity to co-exist and sustain the peace we have enjoyed for over 50 years which was attained at a great cost.”
FODEP seems to have lost its usefulness – RULES of the ELECTION as per ECZ, is to SUSPEND or DISQUALIFY PERPETRATORS!
UPND had been given a LEGAL PERMIT – They HAD DULY ADVERTISED TO THEIR MEMBERS – by cancelling that permit SUDDENELY, not giving enough time for them to CANCEL their RALLY, BEATS ALL LOGIC, more so that FODEP is now sucked in to PF MACHINATIONS!!
NO EVIDENCE OF WEAPONS WERE TENDERED AS FOUND ON THOSE SLAUGHTERED IN COLD-BLOOD!!!
So WHO PERPETRATED THE VIOLENCE you may ask???? WHO HAD ORDERED THE POLICE TO BE MORE VIOLENT???????? FODEP JUST SIGN UP WITH CHAGWA – YOU ARE A WASTE OF SPACE ON THE ZAMBIAN ELECTORAL PLATFORM!!!!
Vote WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE ZAMBIA FORWARD!! Vote UPND!!
#Chagwamustfall!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
Why can’t you find your own blog name and continue posting fical comments. Katondo boys doesn’t have such demeaning language.
Can President Lungu as Commander in Chief take responsibility for the action of his incompetent IG who issues a directive to murder and injure innocent citizens. What these cronies like Kanganja and others are forgetting is that they do not have immunity from prosecution and no blood is spelt in vain…the chickens will come to roost!
Those of us who saw how unruly and dangerous these cadres acted can say it was not enough killing one. Of it was in south Africa they could have slaughtered many. That’s not from of assembly but $stupidity. That Mapenzi maybe was even killed by the same cadres because they were firing live bullets anyhow.
Lungu and the PF should ask Godfoolish Kenneth Miyanda about the nature of this beast called the Public Order Act that Kaunda created, the Supreme Court outlawed and Godfoolish Miyanda in his infinite stupidity resurrected from the gutter! Soon after leaving office, Miyanda found himself at the receiving end of the POA, it bit a sizeable jump out of the alleged coup plotting menace to society’s backside where it stinks and never shines. Ooh you should have seen how the idle soldier cried out loud, monga ka mwana sure cimsoja conse. This is what will happen to Lungu and his cohorts when this violence they are busy sponsoring comes back home to roost.
What the Police did is not violation of human rights. It is criminal act by police that require prosecution. If change of government takes place, expect some police officers to be prosecuted.
I don’t understand why Zambian Police officers fail to do a professional job. Some police officers need to be checked for mental soberness. I have a distant relative who is police officer. He has been involved in killing people in Mongu and Mazabuka. You can see that he does not look normal. He says he enjoys killing people. When Mwanawasa was in Government, he was not happy becoz he felt he was restricting them.