The Electoral Commission of Zambia, ECZ, has cautioned political parties taking part in the Milanzi by-election in Katete to desist from engaging in malpractices such as grabbing voters’ cards from the electorate.
ECZ Commissioner Joseph Jalasi says grabbing voters cards was a criminal offence that attracted not less that two years imprisonment if found guilty.
Mr Jalasi was speaking when he addressed political parties, election monitors, observers and the media at Kafumbwe Boarding High school in Katete’s Milanzi constituency today.
Commisioner Jalasi said there was need for all political parties to familiarize themselves with the Electoral Code of Conduct so that they did not fall prey to electoral malpractices.
He said the Commission was aware that such malpractices happened during elections, hence the emphasis to warn political parties against the vice.
Mr Jalasi said it was the duty of political leaders to educate their cadres to refrain from such practices as it undermines the country’s democratic dispensation.
The ECZ Commissioner also urged political parties to desist from destroying each other’s campaign materials such as posters and banners.
“Let’s avoid name calling and disruption of other peoples meetings. Your campaigns should be issue based,” he said.
Mr Jalasi also appealed to police to accord all the candidates equal opportunity and time to carry out their campaigns peacefully.
“I call upon all candidates to submit their campaign time tables to the police for easy planning and monitoring of their campaigns,”, he said.
Mr Jalasi also urged the media to provide equal coverage to all political parties contesting the by-election so that the electorate can make informed choice.
And in Mkushi, the ruling MMD and opposition Patriotic Front, PF, cadres have resolved their differences following the reconciliation between President Mwanawasa and PF leader Michael Sata recently.
Mkushi MMD chairman Webby Kamwendo disclosed this to ZANIS in Mkushi today.
Mr Kamwendo who is also former Mkushi North Member of Parliament said the two parties decided to bury their differences soon after the reconcilliation of their party presidents about two weeks ago.
Mr Kamwemdo noted that lack of dialogue had taken root and mushroomed into conflicts, hatred, and divisions among political parties in the area.
He said however that early this week, the MMD and PF executive committtee members held two special meetings that saw the two parties reconcile.
Mr Kamwendo said during the meeting, the two parties decided to follow the gesture shown by President Mwanawasa and Mr Sata by reconciling and agreeing to work together for the development of the district and the country at large.
Mr Kamwendo has since urged other political parties to emulate President Mwanawasa and Mr. Sata by reconciling for the benefit of the country.
And PF District Chairman Peter Kasamata has said he was happy that his party had reconciled with the MMD and pledged to work together in developing the district.
What does it mean for a political party to “reconcile” with the ruling party? Is reconciliation the correct term to use for the MMD and PF coming together?
After the so called reconciliation of Sata and Mwanawasa are still going to have the opposition in Zambia?
In my opinion political reconciliation does not make any sense. Personal differences do indeed require reconciliation but not political differences necessarily.
Its clear in white and black tht Sata has run out of phýsical and political stregnth.PF is nothing without Sata because Sata is PF.
These are nice and and great issues ECZ. However, do a follow up to see if they will be implemented by all stakeholders including the Police and Media organisations such as ZNBC.
New Passports next month
The Issuance of new passports is expected to start next month.
Home Affairs Permanent Secretary, Susan Sikaneta said the government has already put into place necessary logistics such as equipment for the entire process which kick start’s in July.
She told ZNBC news that training and recruitment of staff who will mann the new office is expected to start this month end.
The Home Affairs Permanent Secretary noted that Zambia decided to join the international community by bringing in a new passport with sophisticated features that cannot be forged.