Head of the mission, former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, said the intervention by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to suspend the election campaigns for 10 days helped reduce tension among the political contestants.
Mr Jonathan appealed to political party leaders not think only about their political ambitions but should endeavor to put the country first.
Mr Jonathan has implored all Zambians, particularly political parties and candidates, to continue exercising restraint by ensuring that the prevailing peaceful environment that has charactised much of the campaign period was maintained.
Speaking in Lusaka yesterday during a press conference on an assessment of the pre-election context, Mr Jonathan said the objective of the mission was to provide an independent, objective and impartial assessment of the preparations and conduct of the 2016 general elections.
He said the mission will also assess the extent to which the elections comply with the legal framework of Zambia as well as regional and continental principles for democratic elections, which Zambia has ratified.
He however said the AUEOM welcomed the important change to the Electoral Processes Act which states that the chairperson of the ECZ will now be the returning officer in presidential election, as previously there was an apparent conflict of interest where the Chief Justice was the returning officer and also responsible for swearing in the President and sit over the judgment in case of dispute.
He said the Electoral Commission Act empowers the ECZ to promote conditions conducive to democratic and open elections, promote democratic electoral processes and adjudicate disputes that may arise.
Mr Jonathan observed that despite the two incidents of violence, the mission noted that political parties were able to undertake their campaigns without major disruption.
Mr Jonathan said the AUEOM noted a number of complaints about the application of the Public Order Act by the police, which is said to be arbitrarily restricting freedom of assembly of opposition parties and civil society organizations.
When we tell people that they should be careful with how they externalize our domestic affairs this is what we mean! Some one was writing the African Union Chairpersons (incoming and outgoing) fabricating issues. These organisations get there information from their officials on the ground before they can commit and comment. Soon HH will be getting responses from very junior officials in respective organisations advising him to resolve issues with local election monitors and the ECZ! Does he expect COMESA which is resident in Lusaka and has had engagements with government just to comment on his fabrications when they have an observer mission? SADC,can they? The UN has a Resident representative with an observer mission,EU and Commonwealth at the end of the day they will just advise him the…
These Chaps have only come for a FREE HOLIDAY, just here to SCRATCH CHAGWA’S BACK if not ifintweno!!!
Enjoy your holiday!!
VOTE WISELY 11/8/2016!! Vote ZAMBIA FORWARD!! VOTE UPND!!
#MURDERERCHAGWAMUSTFALL!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
WHAT FABRICATIONS? ARE THEY NOT FACTS?
..cont’d .. just advise him the same- to resolve issues with observer missions and the ECZ! What has been elsewhere and even in Zambia? The EU made noise about Mwanawasa but he reminded them about the roles of the ECZ and Courts.So bane,WAKE UP and GROW UP!
COME AUGUST 11, JAMESON VODKA CHAKOLWA RUNGU KADANSA AND HIS PAMAFI PARTY MUST FALL…VIVA UPND, VIVA HH 2016
What peaceful when Zambians have been injured or killed in other places. Don’t be fooled by to those who come in and stay in the hotels. how about those who Lusambo’s ground injured in Ndola? how about those injured in Solwezi? how about those who wanted to bring down UPND helicopters? Mr Gudluck, has not respected the Zambian constitution. why has Lungu only allowed his posters in Lusaka?
The environment can’t be peaceful when the president is constantly issuing threats to Zambians and HH. It’s the duty of every voter to use the opportunity on 11/8/16 to get rid of disagreeable creatures, very far away from power. You can’t hope to get far economically as a country if you choose a man given to drinking excessively as your president. In a very short time since assuming power he has demonstrated that he cares more about himself than the country. He hasn’t a plan, he is completely clueless, no vision. He is surrounded by vultures bent only on stripping the nation of it’s money.
IT IS DIFFICULT FOR A GUY WHO IS USED TO DEALING WITH HARDCORE CRIMINALS LIKE BOKO HARAM TO SEE THE VIOLENCE & GENERAL ATMOSPHERE TO BE AN USUAL. ONLY US ZAMBIAN WHO ARE USED TO THE PEACE ARE ABLE TO TELL THAT NOT ALL IS WELL. ON THE OTHER HAND, I HAVE ALWAYS WONDERED WHY THE MOTHER OF ALL POLITICAL VIOLENCE “THE SIWANG’ANDU SAGA” IS LEFT OUT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT POLITICAL VIOLENCE. FOR CRYING OUT LOUD, THIS HAS HAPPENED TWO YEARS IN A ROLL. AS THOUGH THAT WAS NOT ENOUGH, KAMPYONGO EVEN WENT AHEAD TO STATE THAT SIWANG’ANDU PEOPLE WHERE NOT FOR SALE (MEANING THEIR ARE HIS PERSONAL TO HOLDER ASSET & NO ONE IS ALLOWED TO CAMPAIGN THERE).