The Continental Leadership Research Institute (CLRI) has expressed concern at the recent statement by the Electoral Commission of Zambia over possible restrictions regarding the number of international election observers to be allowed in the country owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a statement issued to the media CLRI Executive Director Paul Mundia Hakoola said ECZ should be more consultative when making such statements as opposed to making announcements without engaging other stakeholders.
Mr Hakoola said the statement by the electoral body undermines the spirit of transparency which is one of the values of ECZ adding that the electoral body should have robust media programs aimed at explaining the electoral process as well as conduct civic education to enlighten the citizenry.
“ECZ has been less consultative and the institute has also noted the lapses by commission’s media department to engage stakeholders through robust media programs aimed at explaining the electoral processes and conduct civic education this situation has caused anxiety among members of the public.
As an institute we reaffirm the earlier position to call on the ECZ to be more consultative and learn to build consensus among stakeholders, in view of the above reasons the institute believes that the possible restriction of international observers will undermine and erode the creditability of our electoral process,” he said.
Mr. Hakoola further wondered why ECZ is raising the issue of election observers entering the country when the country has remained open to outsiders all this time.
“Zambian airspace and borders have been open meaning different individuals from different parts of the world have been able to visit Zambia without any restrictions whatsoever. The position by ECZ to restrict international observers doesn’t hold water as our borders are open.
“The statement by ECZ undermines the spirit of transparency and accountability in the electoral process,” he said.
ECZ on Monday said the international observers may need to use their local staff to monitor the 2021 elections owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Whether or not they do, the result will not change. Even a baby born tomorrow knows pf is winning. Leaders are picked by God. Lobe
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How can they when they know they are upto no good.
Why is ECZ parroting the same sentiments by nthewewe and his hired guns. Indeed why should they use Covid to mutilate normal conventions in elections. This is the same approach that was adopted by that dictator in Uganda whom others are very proud of!
ECZ please redeem yourselves because what has happened to your fellow officers in Uganda is unfortunate ~ sanctions are bad. Learn to do the correct thing because Life is like a seesaw as it changes cause like wind ,it blows west,east,south and north.
Just for how long is this Enyau Chulu going to be the ECZ chairman?
In power since winning a guerrilla war in 1986, President Museveni was announced winner of the January 14 election, his sixth, with 58.6 percent of the vote. However, with his main challenger, the musician and MP Robert Kyagulanyi Sentamu aka Bobi Wine under house arrest since election day, and with evidence continuing to emerge of widespread fraud, widespread concerns remain.
The USA and the EU last week declined to congratulate President Museveni and instead sought to reiterate their calls for security forces to account for the harassment of political actors and abuse of human rights during the campaigns.
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The coalition held a demonstration outside the United Nations—at 47th street and 1st Avenue—on Jan. 23, 2021 to register their protest.
The coalition is calling upon the Biden administration and its European partners (U.K. and EU) to impose targeted sanctions on military and political actors who were responsible for the bloodshed in Uganda. The coalition is demanding that the Biden administration not recognize the results of the presidential election as announced by incumbent Gen. Yoweri Museveni’s hand-picked Election “Commission.”
The head of the African Union (AU) observer team, Samuel Azuu Fonkam, told AL Jazeera that he “could not say whether the election had been free and fair,” which is remarkable, coming from an organization that generally offers glowing endorsements to…
ECZ is at the Centre of PF Election Rigging Strategy in August 2021. The manipulated Voters Roll is key to the Election Rigging Strategy. With this Country wide unpopularity of ECL and PF extensive Election Rigging may not work. Besides Election Rigging can lead to the Political instability in Zambia. To have some level of Political Stability a sitting President should have a high Approval Rate from the Electorate. Those with ears can hear!
With Esau Chulu at the helm of ECZ it’s naive for Zambians to expect a free,fair and credible Election in August 2021. After the rigging of the 2016 Election why would we expect a change without a change of Personnel at ECZ? Its like doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. Without Reforms at ECZ, 2021 Elections in Zambia will be violent and disputed. The writing is on the wall.
Is honourable judge Esau Chulu a tribalist?
With esau Chulu at helm ECZ, one can see blood she’d after August 12 due to cooked figures in favour of Lungu, wait and see
A hyena can never change its colours. With Esau Chulu still at the helm of ECZ results of 2021 Elections will be cooked just like in 2016. ECL wouldn’t be imposing himself on Zambians if he didn’t have total control of ECZ and Concourt to rig the Election Results in August 2021 in his favour. ECL knows that he can’t garner 50%+1 vote threshold thru a free, fair and credible Election on August 12,2021. If ECL steals a Third Term via Concourt the the 2021 Elections will not only be violent but disputed. The writing is on the wall.
President Lungu’s dependency on Compliant Concourt and ECZ to rig the August 2021 Elections in his favour could be fatal. In the USA, President Trump packed the Supreme Court with Conservative Judges hoping 2020 Election Results would be overturned in his favour. Well this didn’t happen and Joe Biden is now President of USA. ECL could assume that “If M7 did it in Uganda why can’t I did it in Zambia “? We shall see if that will works.