Thursday, March 28, 2024

Suspend the Invocation of Article 31 in Districts holding By-elections

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President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in Dundumwezi
President Edgar Chagwa Lungu in Dundumwezi

President Edgar Chagwa Lungu should consider suspending the enforcement of the invoked article 31 of the Constitution and the application of the preservation of public security Act cap 112 of the laws of Zambia in districts and wards holding by-elections for districts council chairpersons and councilors scheduled for September, 2017 as announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

An Electoral Expert Mcdonald Chipenzi  said in a statement today that with the by-elections now set in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution and the electoral process Act whose campaigns and election date fall within the period still under a full-force of State of threatened Public Emergency, there will be need for President Lungu to either relax the requirements or suspend the enforcement of article 31 and Preservation of Public Security Act.

Mr Chipenzi noted that the enforcement of the above pieces of legislation will demand for the derogation, suspension, and restriction of citizens freedoms and rights including those of the contestants, their parties, and supporters such as political assemblies, movements, dissemination of information, expression, processions and rallies, which are necessary ingredients for a sound competitive electoral process.

He said the suspension of the enforcement of article 31 and preservation of public security Act ahead of the scheduled by-elections in the affected districts and wards would necessitate and assure a level electoral play field to all electoral players such as political parties, candidates and civil society organisations.

Mr Chipenzi pointed out that it will be unfair and an affront to competitive electoral democracy and a sound electoral process to proceed to holding the by-elections in the presence of a state of threatened public emergency in these areas and when people’s rights and freedoms are restricted as it would render other contenders in the contest irrelevant and ineffective in canvassing electoral support.

“In this vein, President Lungu has a duty in complimenting the work of ECZ to conduct credible elections by immediately suspending the invocation of Article 31 and the application of the Preservation of Public Security Act in the affected districts and wards and instruct all law enforcement agencies to allow a smooth holding of these by-elections without hindrance,” He said.

He  has called on ECZ to guide the electoral participants, political parties, candidates ,and media on how the electoral activities in the three (3) districts and wards where by-elections are scheduled would be conducted in the face of the existing state of threatened public emergency.

“Any holding of by-elections with the obtaining political situation and without suspending article 31 and preservation of public security Act will render the by-elections, from the onset, unfair, not free and the electoral outcomes likely to lack legitimacy and credibility,” Mr Chipenzi said

12 COMMENTS

    • Paka is it so difficult to post something positive? You dont always have to attack to drive a point. Spaka you lack the tools of analysis hence your resolve to always attack. There were people with ill intentions
      going about sabotaging installations and markets and the President has a duty to bring order. But you dont seem to see beyond your UPND. This way you are going no where and it will not help you at all. Get sober and post things that people can digest and respond to.

    • Abena

      “….There were people with ill intentions
      going about sabotaging installations and markets..”

      That is what we were told about the bweengwa kidnappings, inonge winas house burning in mongu.

      It was all lies , so why should they tell the truth now ??

    • Lungu and PF have really tried hard to take us to places we thought we’ll never go to. Implementing stuff learnt from Mugabe, Kabila or Museveni is going to make Zambia a laughing stock just like those countries. Zambia was once admired by many foreigners and they came in numbers to try and make it their home. It’s no longer the case, instead it has become a looting ground for our resources. Plunder is everywhere and there seems to be no hope in sight. Surely, can’t our leaders find new brains before it’s too late? …..and there’re so many PF cadres blogging on this forum as if they have better lives than those opposing. When our country sinks everyone will sink with it regardless of affiliations, so it’s time cadres on both sides started being reasonable with their blogs.

  1. Upndumpers we know that you will loose don’t even participate in these coming elections. You are a loser team. My question is “how many times has your hate human being fail?

  2. One way out for us all is to wait for nature to do it’s thing and then slowly watch all pf officials drop dead one by one. Nature is a wonderful thing.

  3. CHIPENZI IS TELLING LIES. THE RULES UNDER THREATENED STATE OF EMERGENCY DO NOT APPLY TO A PARTICULAR CANDIDATE. THEY APPLY TO ALL EQUALLY. IF YOU LOSE, YOU LOSE ALONE.

    • Why were PF allowed to hold rallies and UPND banned in the ladt elections if rules apply to all ??

  4. Comment:
    Chipenzi the failed UPND candidate and fervent cadre. When did he acquire the title ‘electoral expert’?

  5. These titles are acquired by TALKING ESPECIALLY ALOT EVEN IF THERE IS NOTHING TO SAY.Like in a meeting always lift up your hand and say “Just to add to what others have said….”

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