Friday, March 29, 2024

ECZ says it has no jurisdiction to regulate current ‘political campaigns’

Share

ECZ Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse
ECZ Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said that it has no jurisdiction to regulate any political activities outside the official campaign period as stipulated by law.

In a statement released to the media yesterday, ECZ public relations Manager Margaret Chimanse said that, while taking note of the sentiments made through the media about the commencement of political campaigns by some political parties, all matters relating to political activities outside the prescribed campaign period are supposed to be managed by relevant law enforcement agencies that have the mandate to maintain law and order under the Public Order Act, Cap 113.

The Commission further advised that Section 28 (3) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016 provides that “The campaign period shall commence and close on such dates as the Commission may determine.”

Lately opposition parties have accused the ruling party of starting campaigns for the 2021 elections.

Last week President Edgar Lungu said that he will not be intimidated into stopping his provincial visits because of aggrieved opposition claiming he is on a campaign tour.

The head of state who landed in Ndola Copperbelt to mark his three day working visit laughed at his critics and told them to start campaigning if they wanted because he is just doing his job.

“Naiwe kachite campaign ngaulefwaya (Go campaign as well if you want,) The next election is in 2021 if you guys want to campaign, get started, me I am doing my job,” President Lungu said.

He sternly reminded that as Republican President he is supervisor of the nation and in doing so can visit any part of the country he so desires.

“I am the supervisor, For all ministries, projects and the entire country I am the supervisor! Ewo chilekalipa (whoever is hurting) can take me on,” he dared.

42 COMMENTS

  1. Who is she ?

    Not in my class.

    I don’t feel there was need to issue this known statement. Is she trying to get 5 minutes of fame ?

    Jog on chimanse

    PF are the incumbent party. Please protect them from UPND and their cadres.

    Thanks

    BB2014,2016

    • I strongly believe the CEO and the 3 top executives at ECZ should have been hired from abroad ( UK, Australia or Canada) to give credibility to that institutions. Like the Transport Minister said…there are no local people qualified to manage the new Zambia Airways, the same is true for ECZ.

    • “I am the supervisor, For all ministries, projects and the entire country I am the supervisor! Ewo chilekalipa (whoever is hurting) can take me on,”
      “Naiwe kachite campaign ngaulefwaya (Go campaign as well if you want,) The next election is in 2021 if you guys want to campaign, get started, me I am doing my job,”
      Inspiring words of the humble president of Zambia- Edgar Lungu

    • @ Obatala: Not true, we have a lot of qualified Zambians working in reputable airlines including Emirates. What the hell is Brian saying?? Zambians are qualified. The issue is that in Zambia we always think foreign is better. Nonsense.
      On ECZ: if PF have started Campaigns? Then let them not stop HH or ask oppositions to have permits. These are double standards. Lungu has lost it with his theft.

    • What her job title again? She doesn’t know that the current constitution has no specific time frame for campaign, ecz need not announce when parties should start campaigning, because the election date is enshrined in the constitution now, 11 August every fives after last election and constitutionally once date of election is known, every day any day you can mobilise and campaign. So if sinkamba and edith are waiting for that announcement of official campaign period, lwabo.

      UPND CONTINUE YOUR PARTY MOBILISATION DON’T RELENT.

    • This statement read with Mushota’s opinion are both foolish. Unless both statements are admitting that there is no law and order in Zambia, which appears to me, this is true because the PF government does whatever they like without following the law of the Land (Constitution).

    • @Mushota you are too young to know our very own Chimanse who was a DJ at ZNBC! Your knowledge of our country leaves a sour taste in my mouth. However, Margaret makes a very valid point in which separation between the State and Government must be sacrosanct! Our President is being mischievous by implying only he is allowed to campaign overtly under the guise of visiting projects. On the other hand campaigns do distabilise the nation by being in a perpetual state of vying for office! By the way, Mushota, your PhD is in what? And you also said you have CIMA?

  2. These are issues that are required to be addressed at the moment. MPs need to take this issue to parliament so that it can be legal to all political parties to campaign with rallies any time any period.

    • The last constitution the president used to announce the date of election and officially that signified start of campaigns, but now the date of election is in the constitution 11 August every five years.

      Those waiting for ecz to announce lwabo.

  3. Koswe mwibala alatumpa!
    He doesn’t qualify to stand. Has he been assured by the Constitutional Court judges that they will give him the Third Term?
    If not then he is intimidating them matching on before they make their kajudgement.

    • Aini sure, can this poor Country afford for the President to visit provinces / projects like that. Does he know how costly that is
      Kwena he is very selfish . Just because he is making money in form of subsistence allowances, he does not care at what cost. He is the most shameless President I have ever seen .

  4. Of course the ECZ cannot have a say when it is the Republican President himself who has admitted that he’s started campaigning.

  5. This current opposition are just lazy and cry babies. There is no need to complain of this when this kateka and his party has alot of points to attack them from. Why cant they concentrate on reminding the people the alternatives they possess to what is currently happening. You had a problem when he was global trotting,with no clue on his many so called projects, now he has cut his trips and is ‘inspecting his projects’ you still have issues with it. Are you providers of checks and balances or just plain jealous and bitter people?? Theres so much to be addressed, who is going to speak for the people? We need a stable price of fuel and the so many taxes on it MUST guarantee that stable price.But whose going to speak for the people??

    • As for campaignes, Lungu started campaigning immediately after the 2016 election and he is continuing with it.
      Honestly instead of him leading by example he is in the forefront breaking the low. So sad

  6. humble pie…………….. fooled …………. how long……………….
    let us pray for someone to stop drinking beer……………tantrums is the order of the day…………….
    Be sober ……………….

  7. What is obvious to the State President may not be obvious to Chishimba nor HH. All the projects going on around the country are under the leadership of the PF and its government and the President does not need permission to visit and inspect. Even then I do not think the president does not make necessary arrangements with the concerned authorities before his move. No wonder we are informed in advance about his program. But this Chishimba wants to challenge the law by saying he shall be doing what he wants when he wants. Is this the reputation that the would be president wants to set as an example of a good citizen?

  8. Margaret Chimanse tamupwinika . Abalume benuta bafwele bwino. Why are not in black ? mwalaipayaabengi . please mukayeaba kamupwinike

  9. Does the opposition know the mandate of the ECZ for them to ask the same to come in between? If I were one of them I would seek more knowledge on the subject before exposing self.

  10. As the intelligencia, lets take our minds off politics, they tend to be destractive, I guess the politicians are trying their level best to develop mother Zambia, it is just one of the ways. Lets explore another route, The Kavuluvulu (whirl wind, Kankungwe) effect. A lot of times we look and pass judgment on how others are using resources. How would we use the resources if we had a limitless source, especially to develop mother Zambia? If 1000 Zambians came together with a purpose to develop mother Zambia, each one contributing K5000, they can raise K5, 000, 000. We are about 15m Zambians, what if a million contributed K5000, how much would be mobilized?

  11. These dimwits are changing ‘goal posts’ just because it’s their demigod who is violating their own law by campaigning. In the past they have dwmo

  12. These dimwits are changing ‘goal posts’ just because it’s their demigod who is violating their own law by campaigning. In the past they have demonised the opposition for campaigning outside the cam

    • F**k some crazy autoloading of pages going on, can’t seem to complete my message and it is posting itself 🙁

  13. These dimwits are changing ‘goal posts’ just because it’s their demigod who is violating their own law by campaigning. In the past they have demonised the opposition for campaigning outside the stipulated window they have set up themselves. If the law says “The campaign period shall commence and close on such dates as the Commission may determine”, so why is she saying that the commission has no jurisdiction outside the prescribed campaign period. The commission need to sue those flouting the law or they need to report them to relevant authorities or they need to punish them somehow.

    Failed sh**thole country indeed!

  14. The president wears two hats when in office. if he’s checking on or inspecting developmental projects, shouldn’t be mistaken to be campaigning but give push for quick completion of projects.
    if the opposition are allowed to do what ECL did at Mokambo boarder post which projects will they inspect?
    ECL is both PF president and Republican president. The opposition leaders are not equals with the incumbent.

  15. “Naiwe kachite campaign ngaulefwaya (Go campaign as well if you want,) The next election is in 2021 if you guys want to campaign, get started, me I am doing my job,” President Lungu said.

    These are truly wasted years..you elected a lazy insecure President who starts campaigning 3 years ahead of General Elections….what a waste!!

  16. A few weeks ago, HH and his UPND were holding rallies saying they are doing cards renewal membership or whatever they called it. What has gone wrong or different now after seeing the supervisor going round trying to check on projects. He is just working doing what he has been asked to do by the people of Zambia.

  17. So unpresidential! This man is a colossal waste of space. One would think UNZA and being in power this long would refine his rough edges but alas nay! Indeed, you can take a man from the bush but never the bush from his “likocokile la Imute wa Kalilo”.

Comments are closed.

Read more

Local News

Discover more from Lusaka Times-Zambia's Leading Online News Site - LusakaTimes.com

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading