The Anti-Voter Apathy (VAP) says Zambia’s democracy is under threat if nothing is done to quickly address the continued rising voter apathy being recorded during elections.
AVAP Executive Director Richwell Mulwani said the continued low voter turnout can harm the country’s efforts towards growing and cementing its democratic system.
Mr. Mulwani said democracy can only be sustained when voters are continuously participate in the governance of the country through choosing leaders.
He has pledged that AVAP will continue to educate the electorates on the importance of voting to choose their leaders.
He said there was no need of forcing people to vote as it is being done in other countries where the electorates are penalized with a fine for not voting.
Mr. Mulwani explained that voting should be done freely without any coercion.
The AVAP Executive Director noted that forcing people to vote becomes an infringement on their civil rights.
Zambia is expected to hold a parliamentary by election in Sesheke on February 12, 2019 following the death of UPND Member of Parliament, Frank Kufakwandi last month.
In recent by-elections such as Mangango, Lusaka mayoral and various ward elections, the Electoral Commission of Zambia recorded low voter turnout.
They know that even if they vote for HH Lungu will be declared winner by using GRZ resources, police to intimidate them, denying opposition space ZNBC,etc.
Apathy is caused by voter frustration like in the current situation where voting only enriches the candidates not the voters.
The Pf00Ls who were dancing Dununa reverse are going to bed hungry while Lungu can get himself two missile-proof private jets at a price of $400million, mansions in Swaziland & others hidden in Dubai, Uganda, Centurion.
Also rigging & voter manipulation by Kaizer, Emmanuel Mwamba & team where the outcome is predetermined.
These election are already a sham, they cannot even paint the desks which are to be showcased to the rest of the world and put proper signage? Impiya shonse baliba, bapompwe!
Whose opinion matters between those that do the counting of votes and those that do the actual voting in your country?
Some general CAUSES OF V.A maybe that , ELECTORATES ARE LOOSING confidence in leaders to be elected,voters bemoaning that their plights first are not considered by leaders.They feels that leaders DO NOT DO what they’re ELECTED FOR,and other CAUSE could be poor JUDGEMENT of campaigners who do not read the psychology of the voters.People do well when they are REINFORCED.People SHOULD BE GIVEN TOKENS because no one is willing to stop doing his / her day – to – day job just to go and lineup for voting for a person who will free go ahead of greenery fortunes.
It’s pointless forcing me to vote when all the candidates before me are an uninspiring bunch, like in the last mayoral elections of Lusaka.Ultimately I vote to satisfy my conviction about a candidate and not merely make any Tom, Dick, and Jerry happy that I’ve shunned away from voter apathy.
Last mayoral elections were a sham in spite of it being declared a holiday.
Just look at the Pf00L clown that won. What a shame to our democracy.
PF and lungu….we’re are the kaponyas njimbu et al singing 6.5 , 6.5 …..people are not voting.
If lungu and pf were popular we would be seeing enthusiastic voters lining up…instead voters are staying home knowing lungu is bribing the whole system…
PF and lungu….we’re are the kaponyas njimbu et al singing 6.5 , 6.5 …..people are not voting.
If lungu and pf were popular we would be seeing enthusiastic voters lining up…instead voters are staying home knowing lungu is bribing the whole system……..
This voter apathy is a reflection of how people perceive the current government and the electoral body. If the elections results don’t reflect the will of the people because they they were threatened or manipulated, what do you expect? Believe me or not, there will be a national wide awakening in 2021.