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Council of Elders concerned with the selective application of the Public Order Act

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Leonard Chiti
Leonard Chiti

The Council of Elders of the Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC) has said that it is concerned with the apparent selective application of the Public Order Act by the Zambia Police Service which appears to have skewed the environment in the campaigns for the August 11 elections.

In a statement released to the media yesterday, said that the the application of the Public Order Act is largely seen as selective and unfair, and affecting the playfield, adding that a credible election begins with free and fair campaigns, on a level playfield

Below is the full statement

Press statement by the ZEIC Council of Elders

Lusaka, 17 July 2016: The Council of Elders of the Zambia Elections Information Centre (ZEIC) is concerned with the apparent selective application of the Public Order Act by the Zambia Police Service which appears to have skewed the environment in the campaigns for the August 11 elections.

Currently, the application of the Public Order Act is largely seen as selective and unfair, and affecting the playfield. A credible election begins with free and fair campaigns, on a level playfield.

Through the ZEIC platforms, the council has received numerous concerns from the citizens on this matter. Citizens do not want a situation where during this campaign period, some contenders are seen to be more equal than others, as we read in the famous story of the animal farm. For this election to be credible, we demand that the Police immediately put in place measures to make it conducive for all contesting political parties to campaign freely and fairly.

We commend the Electoral Commission of Zambia for putting in place measures to arrest the growing violence. However, we urge the Commission to avoid implementing measures that border on infringement of civil and political rights of the citizens to effectively participate in campaigns.

This is a very sensitive period in our country that requires all of us to be responsible, to preserve the peace and tranquillity that our nation is known for. It is the role of the ECZ and the Police to ensure that the right mechanisms are in place to prevent violence and to ensure that the campaigns are conducted in a free and fair manner. We call on the Police to make every effort to protect the rights of all citizens to assemble, and not to shamelessly hinder the enjoyment of such rights as we have experienced recently.

The Council of Elders also recognises that political players have a responsibility in controlling and preventing violence, we urge them to support the efforts of the Police and the ECZ in ensuring free and fair campaign season.

Issued by Fr. Leonard Chiti, Chairperson of the ZEIC Council of Elders

Members of the Council of Elders: Dr Anna Chifungula, Mama Chibesa Kankasa, Mr Simon Zukas

6 COMMENTS

  1. Far from it
    It is just that the Hyena Hakachimona halulusa Hagani has run out money. GBM having sensed defeat has stopped releasing cash flow. Financiers in RSA and USA have asked under 5 to convince them why thy should continue with funds when defeat is very clear. Under 5 is now confused. Have you noticed that maroads, kilometer, grade 12 failure engineer and sikoti are quiet. Actually Kilometer and enginner have started come back negotiations and if all goes as expected, they defect back to PF on 8th August 2016. Watch this dramma dinununa

  2. What is this Council of Attention Seekers? Just apply the law as it should be and drag those abusing it to your so-called Constitutional Court. Why do we layer things in Zed and complicate our lives for nothing when we have laws??? Disgusting!

  3. That is just Chiti’s own statement. What council of elders? Is this not the same Chiti who wanted to shhot down the new constitution and wanted it implemented without amendment? As we have seen their document would have wrecked havic in the country without amenment. And after the anomalies were corrected by others, Chiti and Co are shamelessly quite. Now the biased Chiti can call himself Council of elders? Of course we want such advisory bodies but surely there are credible Zambians out there than Chiti?

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