The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has expressed concern over the publication and circulation of the unverified information stating that the commission, working together with Zambia National Public Health Institute (ZNPHI), will postpone the August 12 general elections.
Speaking during a press briefing held at the Elections House in Lusaka, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Kryticous Nshindano cautioned media houses to provide true and accurate information during this year’s general elections.
Mr. Nshindano explained that elections are constitutional and can only be postponed if the country is declared to be under a state of emergency.
“No one can just wake up and postponed the elections,” he said.
He said the media should be very careful with the information released to the public to avoid misleading the people in the country.
“The media are game changers to such processes,” he said.
Mr. Nshindano said the commission has the mandate to protect the lives of the citizens to ensure elections are managed in a free and fair manner.
He has meanwhile urged political parties to submit their campaign schedules and use appropriate campaign strategies with minimal or no contact with the crowd because of Covid-19.
He explained that political parties conducting door to door campaigns should ensure they mask up with only a few people on the ground.
“Door to door campaigns should not be turned into rallies,” he advised.
Meanwhile, Ministry of Health Permanent Secretary for Technical Services, Kennedy Malama said during a press briefing with ECZ that the third wave of Covid-19 has already broken out in Zambia hence super spreader events such as crowds should be avoided at all cost.
Dr. Malama advised that all political parties should adhere to the five golden rules of Covid-19 prevention as they embark on the door to door campaigns.
“Currently there are 825 new cases, 48 new admissions in Lusaka only and 184 admissions country wide in the last 24 hours,” he disclosed
ECZ is supposedly an independent institution. Then they should NOT involve themselves with media content.
Don’t listen to ECZ and that cadre PS those sentiments are only meant for the opposition and not for their PF.
Go ahead, print ballot so we are sure…
I like Nshindano because he picks our phone calls, reads comments on LT and follow our advice. Yes we told him to go in his history with honors.
We/I have advised him even to let rallies go on, as long as political parties provide masks and social distance their crowd.
Yes we know Ba Edgar we try State of Emergency to cancel elections.
in this situation of worsening Covid cases…. the best is to postpone the elections to next year 2022 and protect the lives of Zambians.
It is media funded by those thugs in upnd e.g. watchdog. Those bl00dy dogs. Police should arrest them
Zambians are so clever that they have found out a way of testing a hypothesis in almost every aspect. As earlier disregarded and shamed, the idea of postponing the election was not a welcome idea and the masses quickly responded by making all sorts of claims. This has resulted in the quick response by the Electoral Commission to clear the air which is good and expected at moment. Hope the people will exercise their right to vote and adhere to health regulations.
A rally is not a super spreader event for COVID because is an outdoor event! Weddings, church , markets and pubs are super spreaders. Malama is a liar just like all of them!
What is door to door campaign in villages? Even in high density areas?! You people amaze me and it looks like you are from the moon.
AT YOUR AGE YOU ARE REFERRING YOUR FELLOW HUMAN BEINGS AS BL00DY DOGS!!!!! VERY SOON YOU WILL KNOW THE DISADVANTAGES OF BITTERNESS
YOU JOKERS HAVE BECOME IRRELEVANT, WHY ARE NOT ACTING ON THE BUYING OF NRC’S AMOUNG MANY CRIMES PF IS COMMITTING.
IF THIS NOT RIGGING THEN WHAT IS RIGGING?
Instead of addressing concerns which affects the holding of free, fair and credible elections, ECZ is addressing sources of information for the media!! ECZ should concentrate on its core mandate and not take roles which are not under its mandate. Indeed, ECZ should have been in the forefront dealing with the buying of NRCs and voter cards as well as facilitating free and fair campaigns for all the political parties.