Tuesday, March 19, 2024

ECZ should ask President Edgar Lungu to stop moving around to commission finished projects

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By Venus N Msyani,Concerned citizen

“We shall conduct our business in a non-partisan manner and exhibit the highest levels of impartiality and fairness,” reads one of ECZ core values.

Allowing only one party to sell its manifesto does not connect with this value. All political parties should be allowed to campaign for the upcoming August 12th general election in Zambia.

A suggestion that political parties should not hold rallies for the upcoming August 12th general election because of Covid-19 shows that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) favors the Patriotic Front (PF) government.

Stopping rallies will not stop PF, the president Edgar Lungu particular, from holding rallies in the name of commissioning finished projects. It will only affect United Party for National Development (UPND) president, Hakainde Hichilema and the rest.

President Edgar Lungu gave a speech at the commissioning of Kazungula bridge. In real sense that was part of a campaign for the upcoming August 12th election and it will be foolish to think that it was the last commissioning event for him before the August election.

In short, if political parties will not be allowed to hold rallies, PF will be the only party campaigning for the upcoming election through commissioning finished projects around the country.

ECZ pretend not to know that:

“We advise all political parties to do away with rallies because they attract huge crowds. They should instead use alternative means such as zoom,” says ECZ Director for Electoral Operations Royd Katongo.

Looking forward to see President Lungu stop travelling around the country to commission finished projects and looking forward to see him commission projects on zoom.

Meanwhile, the spread of Covid-19, which according to health experts can be managed, should not be allowed to destroy our democracy.

Mask and social distancing methods have worked in other countries. In the USA elections activities went on even at a peak of Covid-19.

Today, there is even a vaccine and has been reported Zambia has received consignment of doses of it.

ECZ should be encouraging people to get a vaccine. Not pushing to ban political rallies. Something that directly favors one side.

22 COMMENTS

  1. But u people makes me laugh sometimes ,u have been saying he has done nothing on the other hand u are saying he should stop commissioning finished project

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  2. Just get used with the lost people who don’t know what they are saying. Imagine in 2013 the same people said president ECL was weak, 2016 they said he was occupying the office of president illegally and he stole votes later he was called a dictator and he has done nothing for the past 5 years now how can the person who has nothing be allowed to commission something?
    You’re lost and just wait see what future holds for you.

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  3. Political Parties should be allowed to Campaign as long as they adhere to Covid-19 Guidelines. All Countries which held Elections recently did not ban Political Rallies so why should Zambia be an exception? U can’t have free,fair and credible Elections without Political Parties being allowed to freely campaign. ECZ should agree with Stakeholders on Campaign Guidelines which respect Covid 19 WHO Guidelines. Apart from holding Rallies Opposition Parties should have their Campaign messages aired on ZNBC. There must be a level playing field if the 2021 Elections are going to be free,fair and Credible. ECZ mustn’t show bias towards PF during this Campaign Season.

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  4. Lungu is commissioning projects that he was not responsible for and was not involved with. Kazangula bridge was started before Lungu was even in politics. And no president gets involved with something small as a police station!

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  5. I think he can commission as many police posts as he wants….this is an old plan! It just shows how much he believes in police and oppressive tendencies. If he was sorting out pressing issues I would take note!
    Now ECZ has been proved that is the PF’s second arm after ConCourt and police. Appealing to ECZ is a waste of time, it is like when Hanna Montana is on stage then you go looking for Miley Cyrus…you must have a problem! Big problem.

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  6. Chicala chany0k0. Wembuuuwa we. Don’t you know that the president’s work continues? Cardinal government services and work has to continue. Do you know how much work and money has gone into these project? Don’t be donkey. We know you are a upnd f00I from that tribe

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  7. ECZ is 100% controlled by State House. ECL thru ECZ is weaponising Covid-19 to stop Opposition Parties from Campaigning. Apart from “working visits ” and inspecting Projects ECL has no effective Campaign messages while the Opposition Parties have plenty to Campaign on: PF burning Markets,Gassing People, Corruption, violence, high cost of living, low incomes,ZPS killing Civilians etc. PF has no answers to this mismanagement of the Economy, misrule, Corruption etc. ECZ cannot stop Opposition Parties from Campaigning. All it should do is to advise Political Parties to adhere to Covid-19 Guidelines while Campaigning. U can’t have free,fair and credible Elections without Political Parties being allowed to freely campaign. ECZ should direct ZNBC to allow Opposition Parties to Air their…

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  8. The Inspector General of Police, the deputy IG are also campaigning for Lungu. The only security chiefs who have shown neutrality in public are the army, air force, ZNS and prisons chief. What hope for a free and fair election do the opposition have when the police command is partisan? Kanganja knows that if Lungu goes, he goes too. He has tied his flag to PF. He needs the job so that he can complete his financial projects. He also needs to be in the job so that he is not arrested for abuse of office like the former ZAF commander.

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  9. You people, stop behaving like Under 5s. ECZ did not stop anyone from holding rallies, they only discouraged. There is difference between discouraging and stopping completely.

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  10. Niggaz are unsettled.
    It’s the projects he worked on and finished.
    Yangu! Nensoni tamwakwata.

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  11. BaLusaka Times, if we can’t have the language Kaizar Zulu is using in a play ground why do you allow it here?
    Encourage him to have counseling for his own sake.

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  12. Lessons on how deceitfulness can backfire – praying during the day, at night it’s corruption, nepotism, tribalism, violence …
    Watch “Chilufya Tayali / Seer1 / Simon Mwewa / Edgar Lungu / PF / 15/05/21 Must watch video” on YouTube

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  13. He is the president, at times people need to think. If he doesn’t commission certain high level projects, the economy or progress stalls. Concentrate on convincing the population why you needed to be voted for, and not why the president is doing national duties. Kikikiki. I disagree a lot with the presidents expensive national tours, but national necessities are for all.

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  14. I think u a mad bck u have collectively said finished projects now who do u want to commission them.

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  15. I WILL BE THE HAPPIEST MAN ONCE THE TR*0LL IS S1LENCED
    THE AR*E H0LE IS A FAKE AND BLOGGING WITHOUT ANY FACTS OR FIGURES

  16. I second this! My posts have been censored, delayed or not published at all! We want to have vigorous debates but remain respectful and hopefully learn something from each other. We can not have the likes of this not always out of topic and spewing nonsense!

  17. The opposition does not inspire the votes. We want to see the obvious difference between them. I see none.

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  18. it is only in countries like Zambia or Zimbabwe i see a president commissioning everything. What role do Mayors of cities have. A president’s job is not commissioning things. I think this mentality is old fashioned. This just goes to show you how people want to have their names engraved on metal plaques as having commissioned this and that. Very myopic thinking. I have been in RSA since 2004 and have been through three different presidents, Mbeki, Zuma and now Ramaphosa. I have never seen them do such things. Their democracy is even more advanced and mature than Zambia which should have been miles ahead. These are things that need to be done away with. Also the issue of having a huge send off of the president by dancers (basically cadres) should be done away with (As the old folks would…

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