Akufuna
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says the ten day suspension of campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala Districts will not be lifted.
This is despite repeated appeals by the Forum for Democracy and Development-FDD and other stakeholders.ECZ Spokesperson Cris Akufuna says the ban remains in force to enable erring political parties to reflect on their member’s transgressions.
Mr. Akufuna said the ECZ is on firm grounds and will not rescind the decision.And Mr. Akufuna says the ECZ cannot stop stakeholders from seeking a judicial review over the issue.He was speaking to ZNBC news in Lusaka.
ECZ last week announced a ten day ban on campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala due to escalating political violence.Meanwhile, the FDD has taken the matter to the constitutional court accusing the ECZ of violating the party’s democratic right.
FDD party Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza said the decision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to suspend election campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala was illegal and totally unacceptable.
“The Law clearly stipulates that individual candidates/parties that abrogate the Electoral Code of Conduct by engaging in electoral fraud such as political violence must be penalised. Therefore it is wrong for ECZ to sanction us the victims of violence by putting up a blanket suspension on campaigns. Instead of inconveniencing innocent candidates/parties, ECZ must sanction the individual candidates/parties that are engaging themselves in electoral violence. You cannot punish innocent people for the wrongs of others. This is a grave miscarriage of justice.
“Furthermore, Article 28(2) of the Electoral Process Act No.35 of 2016 which ECZ has cited as a legal basis for suspending campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala does not give ECZ any powers to suspend political campaigns. So what ECZ has done is illegal and we as FDD will seek legal redress,” he said.
He accused ECZ of not serving the interest of the general public.
“It is abundantly evident that ECZ is no longer serving the interest of the general public but those of the Ruling Party. ECZ is acting as an appendage of the Ruling Party. Even in Dubai, ECZ has delayed the printing of the ballot papers to wait for one Ngosa Simbyakula to arrive. How can a national process come to a stand-still just because of one cadre?” he wondered.
I now know why UPND keeps losing.
You can’t keep insulting people who don’t support you when you know those who support you are few – how do you hope to increase the number? Those you insult they cannot move to join you after receiving your insults.
Last time you said those who voted for PF were not thinking, and you go to them this time to ask for their vote, after your insult they should pay you a vote for that? No way.
This is the reason why UPND will not gain the required numbers.
Did you take time to read the article above? Or you went straight to regurgitating what is on your mind.
Advice
When you sleep you think UPND when you eat you see UPND when you talk to your partner all you see is UPND when try to write any thing only UPND comes out.
Please write before you smoke and not after..
@Advice
Mena amate. You are completely off tangent here. The issue is NOT UPND BUT ECZ sticking to its guns for heaven’s sake. Where does the UPND come in mate?
PF is still campaigning in Lusaka.
Yesterday a vehicle covered in PF posters with loudspeakers blasting away at full volume was seen by me personally at the Woodlands roundabout.
What are you doing about that ECZ?
Pf is the ruling party. Don’t compare us with the chuundu tribal grouping who’s interest is to usher into plot 1 a Tonga regardless. They don’t market the the party Upnd but hh.
If PF are not stealing they are killing people or closing down independent media.
The end is close. Some of you bitter PF caders will be committing suicide as they are so used of looting and hard work is alien to them.
What ECZ has done is similar to punishing a whole class because of two noisemakers. It doesnt seem fair.
All the people using bad language on the nett must not be educated and have compound manners. Manu ya mu combon.
The Barger what he thinks about is dreaming night mares leave him.
The ban of campaigns in these two places is a violation of human rights at it’s highest level and it’s unacceptable by all meaning zambian and never did i hear any comments from the president, since he carries the biggest weap he’s supposed to interven in the issues surrounding his state. There are a lot of injustices in the country and the person who carries the biggest weap is silent honestly where are we going president ECL has failed us zambians Come 11th August the biggest weap that you carry shall turn against you sir (ECL)
Woooo…! Isn’t it a blessing I am not voting in these elections of barbaric leaders? NEVER WILL I waste a vote on such leaders
Rebel not voting is not the solution, yr vote is your right why should you let others choose a leader for you. yr vote is yr best cane to beat a politician.