Saturday, May 10, 2025
Home Blog Page 2819

UPND delays further the filing in of presidential petition to next week

141
Jack Mwiimbu Chairman - Legal
Jack Mwiimbu Chairman – Legal

The opposition UPND has revealed that it will only file in the presidential election challenging President Edgar Lungu’s victory to Monday next week.

The UPND legal team initially intended to file in the petition a day after President Lungu was declared but later moved it to Thursday before pushing it to tomorrow, Friday.

But UPND legal Adviser Jackie Mwiimbu confirmed in an interview that the party has instead decided to move the filing in to Monday next week.

Mr Mwiimbu said the move was necessitated by the overwhelming amount of evidence of alleged election malpractices that the party has continued to receive.

He said a lot of individuals and organisations have been coming forward to bring evidence to the legal team to further strengthen their case.

Mr Mwiimbu said the UPND is confident that President Lungu’s victory will be over turned based on the evidence to be presented before the constitutional court.

Meanwhile, Veteran retired politician Vernon Mwaanga has said that it is wishful thinking for anyone to say that this year’s general election was free and fair when opposition political parties were denied coverage by the State media.

Mr. Mwaanga said that of all the Elections that he has witnessed, this year’s elections were the worst one owing to the number of challenges the Electoral Commission of Zambia faced.

He has cited the issues of the G12 form, the application of the Public Order Act during campaigns and several irregularities as some of the things that stop the elections from being free and fair.

Mr. Mwaanga stated that it would be an extravagant exaggeration for him to describe the recent elections as free and fair.

Zesco United dismantle Power Dynamos

4

Zesco United returned to league action for the first time in over a month on Thursday when they dismantled Power Dynamos 4-0 at Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola.

The defending champions win saw them complete a Copperbelt derby double over Power in the FAZ Super Division this season after beating them 2-1 away in Kitwe on April 2.

Zesco’s last league game prior to the home win over Power was on July 12 in a 1-1 home draw with Mufulira Wanderers.

Meanwhile, striker Jackson Mwanza and midfielder Cletus Chama recorded a brace each in this home game to hand Zesco the three points today in Ndola.

Mwanza put Zesco ahead in the 6th minute before Chama haunted his former club with the second goal in the 45th minute.

Mwanza completed his brace in the 76th minute but Chama refused to be left behind with his own in the 84th minute.

Zesco stay 5th despite the win after rising to 36 points from seventeen games with five matches to spare.

They trail Green Buffaloes and Power who are on 39 and 40 points in 4th and 3rd place respectively.

Nkana are 2nd on 44 points while Zanaco lead on 52 points.

UPND moves filing in of presidential petition to tomorrow, claims they have overwhelming evidence

41
Former Chongwe MP Silvia Masebo
Former Chongwe MP Silvia Masebo

The opposition UPND has moved the filing in of the presidential petition challenging the election of President Edgar Lungu to this Friday and not today as earlier announced.

Former Chongwe Member of Parliament Sylvia Masebo announced that the legal team will file in tomorrow.

Ms. Masebo has also urged party members to come in numbers to the Supreme Court as their legal Team will be filing in a court petition at the Constitutional Court.

She said the party is ready to challenge the outcome of the election and believes that the election was stolen.

Ms. Masebo said the party has overwhelming evidence which they will present before the Constitutional Court.

She said is sad that Zambia is still failing to organise a credible free and fair election 52 years after Independence.

Yesterday, UPND vice president for administration Geoffrey Mwamba said that his party has sufficient evidence to petition the outcome of the elections.

Mr. Mwamba said that the evidence is enough to secure a judgment most Zambians are waiting for as it is actually being supplied by the people who allegedly helped the ruling PF to steal its votes.

He has disclosed at media briefing held last evening that part of this evidence will include the incarceration of some of its members on alleged tramped up non-bailable charges.

Mr. Mwamba said that party members should remain prayerful and calm as the Constitutional Court hears the petition. He said that that was not necessary for anyone to panic as he believes God is on side of the UPND.

Speaking at the same briefing MMD president Nevers Mumba wondered why there was so much security at Mulungushi International Conference Center were elections results were being announced.

Dr. Mumba recalled that it has never happened in Zambia’s history that the returning officer of a presidential election can be protected by armed police officers at the time of announcing the results.

He said that his suspicion is that what happened on Monday this week when President Lungu was being declared winner of the election is a sign of how scared the ruling PF is of what it has allegedly done.

Meanwhile, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema has appealed to his PARTY supporters to be peaceful and loving to each other as God loved everyone.

In his facebook posting, Mr Hichilema said that the party is fully committed to exhaust all channels to ensure that justice is achieved on claiming what belongs to the people of Zambia.

He said that the party leadership hopes to go back to the people to thank them for the massive votes and support they gave to the UPND during the just ended elections.

Mr Hichilema hopes there will be no restrictions on their movements during this undertaking like was the case during the campaign.

Suspects in Southern Province Anti-Lungu protests appear in court, remain locked up

7

Rae Hamoonga
Rae Hamoonga

Some suspects in the riots that rocked some parts of Southern Province have started appearing in court.

According to a statement from Police Spokesman Rae Hamoonga, 22 suspected UPND cadres that were detained for riotous behaviour appeared in the magistrate court in Namwala for plea yesterday.

They all denied the charge and the matter has been adjourned to 24th August,2016 and 26th August,2016 respectively for commencement of trial.

Bail has been denied and all suspects have been remanded in prison.

Police has meanwhile apprehended 33 suspects in Maala area of Namwala and are being screened.

In Mazabuka, four dockets have been completed and a total member of 15 suspects appeared in court yesterday for plea.

About 136 people comprising 124 male and 12 female suspects were apprehended, charged and arrested for riotous behaviour, malicious damage to property and Assault Occasioning Actual Bodily

Mr Hamoonga said the number of suspects may be more than 136 taking into account the fact that number of offences as some suspects are facing more than one offence.

In Monze, 50 suspects which comprised of 48 males and 02 females were apprehended, charged and arrested for riotous behaviour and are appearing today whilst the 26 are being processed.

In Choma, 53 suspects were apprehended and after a screening exercise six were positively identified to have been involved in several cases of arson that took place on 15th August,2016 between 1600 and 1730 Hrs at various places within Choma.

47 suspects were likely charged with conduct likely to cause breach of peace.

Tough decisions will be made, some will be painful but necessary-President Lungu

101
President-Elect Edgar Chagwa Lungu talks to Yepsanda Fire  Service CEO James Kamanga after a Business Breakfast meeting with Business  Community at Chrismar Hotel. Pic by State House ©2016
President-Elect Edgar Chagwa Lungu talks to Yepsanda Fire Service CEO James Kamanga after a Business Breakfast meeting with Business Community at Chrismar Hotel. Pic by State House ©2016

President Edgar Lungu has met business leaders at a special breakfast meeting at which he hinted at broad policy measures to accelerate economic growth and control spending during his next five tenure.

Addressing more than 70 captains of commerce and industry at Lusaka’s Chrismar Hotel today, President Lungu said he aims at creating a more stable and predictable open market environment with increased consultation between Government and the business
community.

“I have five years now which is sufficient time to take more decisive action. I will take measures to grow the economy and control expenditure. Some measures will be painful but they will yield results and by 2021, and people will reward us for having taken such action,” the President said to a cheering audience during a closed session.

“We have been constrained to take certain measures due to political considerations. But I am glad that one of the major benefits from the current constitutional order is that it assures stability in policy formulation and implementation because there is no fear of disruption in the Presidency, at least for a period of five years under the running-mate arrangement,” he said.

“Tough decisions will be made. Some will be painful but necessary. Business confidence has oftentimes suffered because of the frequent changes in the Presidency in the last seven years.”

The President said all the ministers he will appoint must be business and public-friendly because dialogue will be the hallmark of his Presidency.

He said all components of the IMF Programme will be mutually agreed saying Government and the IMF have made great progress and reached broad consensus on the key areas of the programme.

The Head of State hinted at a rapid but progressive migration to a cost-reflective tariff structure in the electricity and fuel sectors and the restructuring of the agriculture support programme under which government provides subsidies for seed and fertilizer.

President Lungu also announced plans to restructure the Food Reserve Agency into strictly an entity for purchasing strategic food reserves, a move that would reduce on FRA’s demands on the Treasury.

He said the FRA has done tremendously well in reducing crop waste and now we want them to reduce on its resource demands on the Treasury.

“Zambia is a promising economy in Africa and has attracted significant regional and international investment over the last decade. However, the past decade has also shown at various times how vulnerable the Zambian economy is to the global economic growth trends and has found itself amidst a global decline in commodity prices, emerging market interest and exchange rate price volatility and ever increasing electricity utility shortages due to slow infrastructure investment, thus not being able to keep up with demand from a growing economy. As a Government, we are here to listen to you and ensure that our local businesses are protected from the absolute advantages international companies have.”

Co-moderators of the business breakfast, entrepreneurs Guy Phiri and Mark O’Donnell delivered a message of congratulation on behalf of the business forum, which has organised itself as an independent think-tank to advise government on the interests of industry.

The business leaders told their stories of hope they have seen in the resilience of the economy under the difficult period of electioneering and general slowdown in the global economy.

“There was not much panic among investors during this period but instead we saw remarkable transactions by major corporations buying assets on the Zambian market,” said Mr. Caesar Siwale, the CEO of Pangaea Securities Limited, a leading investment advisor.

Let the Substantive Will of the Masses Prevail-Katele Kalumba

100
Dr Katele Kalumba
Dr Katele Kalumba

Poorly conceived use of legal systems sometimes plunges countries into turmoil. In Zambia, let us not experiment with the law and politics. The electoral majority legally voted for Edgar Chagwa Lungu.

Remember the George W. Bush elections in Georgia and ballot boxes in church yards. There was no Acting President. It’s 50%+1.

Lungu should be sworn-in and the courts should do their part, albeit, performing the role of peace makers.

Let us not pay a blind eye to the judicial activism that is creeping through the window into political rule. It is a dangerous trait.

In life, people throw stones at a mango tree that bears good fruit! Chagwa is that tree right now. Let us defend our democracy. The future is on that Tree despite the maneuvers of some people who want to bring our future down with their middle aged battle zone tactics.

The silent majority that voted lawfully for Chagwa cannot have their vote trashed through our deficit of political will to defend their collective and decisive act of voting for Lungu with more than 50+1.

To ignore the will of the electoral majority would be a traversity of democracy.

Yes, the law must and should be respected, however, it is equally true that what the law cannot properly handle remains a preserve of the people.

As such, the political constitution of government is the sovereign act of the people. Hence any judicial review of procedural questions of mistakes of a process cannot and must not invalidate the substantive will at stake; the lawful election of Edgar as President until August 2021 .

As Observers have rightly noted, it can only help in improving future processes. This is not a matter of law as such but of policy consideration. The effect by the court not to heed this humble opinion especially against the background of mindsets like the Dundumwezi factor may lead to unintentional chaotic outcomes and widespread emotional damage.

Edith Nawakwi could as well be right. What needs to be looked into is by what means was the Dundumwezi outcome made possible? Was it by sheer appeal of the UPND manifesto to voters in the affected regions?

I suggest that those involved in handling “concerns” do so in a responsible, creative, anticipatory and visionary manner that would resolve the outcome into a state respectful of the will of the majority.

If all regions had done a “Dundumwezi” would the outcome be any different? Edith Nawakwi could as well be right. What needs to be looked into is by what means was the Dundumwezi outcome made possible? Was it by sheer appeal of the UPND manifesto to voters in the affected regions?

I have no evidence to answer this vexying question but any reasonable man on the street might be excused to suspect something less than politically right was being used materially or symbolically; that is, in words including perhaps, a hate campaign.

We have a dangerous situation at hand. We are in fact in murky waters that we have never before been in. Let no one ignite the wrong match stick!

At a time like this, our Clergy must come together and set up dialogue symposium. They are an important factor in reading our national sensibilities than may be possible with a newly constituted judicial organ; respectable as the learned court might be.

Our legal fraternity know that decisions of court that break new ground come from Judicial authorities who read into both the law and policy.

It takes courage and wisdom and not merely intellect, to depart from established legal positions.

Our courts are just beginning to handle us in a new constitutional order. I urge that if they have to err, rather it be in the interest of peace than poisonous technicality.

Let there be peace and let the substantive will of the masses prevail.

I pray for civility and peace on the motherland.

Katele Kalumba, Dr.
Chienge District
Luapula Province.

Losing PF Candidate accuse UPND of telling electorates that he had been arrested

15

Patriotic Front (PF) Chikankata Parliamentary aspirant Kavwumbu Hakachima attributes her loss to a lie disseminated by the United Party for National Development (UPND) to the electorate a day before polls that she had been arrested with possession of pre-marked ballot papers, reports Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde.

In a statement, Ms. Hakachima said a day before elections she was in Mazabuka till 18:30 hours and received a UPND fake message to all wards that the PF candidate was in police custody after being found with pre-marked ballot papers.

Ms. Hakachima, formerly Chikankata District Commissioner said many of her supporters did not vote because they were in a panic mood, with many demanding to see her physically in police cells.
She noted that the electorates were confused as they were told that she was just released on police bond.

Ms. Hakachima has however stated that there is a reason why it happened like that and such she will not petition the liars, opting to be vindicated by political posterity.

“Let me comment about chikankata friends. Firstly let me say sorry we lost it. A day before elections I went to Mazabuka up to 18.30 hours. Then UPND sent message to all wards that candidate Kavwumbu had been arrested after being found with papers already marked”

“When I came back I found news that I was in custody. We couldn’t get help from chikankata radio to tell people that this was propaganda. At 05hrs my supporters panicked asking why i got arrested and I said am not in custody”

“So people started demanding to see me physically to prove I was not in cells. Then I quickly started going to polling stations to show myself. When I got there, again I found a mob of UPND who chased me from polling stations claiming I was a thief who had stolen votes”

“Thus how we lost on 11th August, 2016. People could not vote for me and I could not manage to go to all polling stations to vindicate myself. Finally allow me to say…friends there is a reason why it happened this way…am still in a shock how I got treated as a criminal by UPND” she said

President Lungu should continue in office even after petition is filed-YALI

29
Meeting for Political Parties organised by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)
Meeting for Political Parties organised by the Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI)

The Young African Leadership Initiative has argued that President Edgar Lungu should continue to perform the executive functions as republican president until the president-elect is sworn into office as per Constitution of Zambia, as amended even after the opposition files its petition against his re-election.

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza said the YALI legal team has carefully studied Article 101 to Article 104 of the Constitution of Zambia, as amended, and their conclusion is that any petition brought at this stage when there has not been any re-run will be brought under Article 101 clause 4 of the Constitution.

Mr. Mwanza explained that under this clause, there is no provision for the incumbent who has been declared President-elect under Article 101 clause 2 to step aside and allow the Speaker of the National Assembly to perform executive functions.

The YALI position is contrary to the position by various stakeholders that the Speaker of the National Assembly will have to take over and perform the executive functions when the election petition is filed against the incumbent, having been duly re-elected and declared President-elect under Article 101 clause 2 of the Constitution of Zambia.

And Mr. Mwanza has urged stakeholders including aggrieved political parties to engage ECZ if they have evidence of wrong tabulation of results in order to correct the situation within the window period of 7 days as provided by Section 76 of the Electoral Process Act number 35 of 2016.

Father Leonard Chiti tells BBC that President Lungu was legitimately elected

93

Leonard Chiti
Leonard Chiti

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu was legitimately elected, JCTR Executive Director Father Leonard Chiti has told the BBC’s Focus on Africa.

Fr Chiti told the BBC that according to the election rules President Lungu needed more than 50 per cent to be declared winner.

He said the results were accurate and that the observers and monitors were actually taking pictures as they were posted outside the polling stations which were transmitted via social media so there was no disputing what came through and how people voted around the country.

Fr Chiti said, as an election watchdog, he was very convinced that the verdict was accurate because monitors who were spread across the country had been sending in results as they were being announced at the different polling stations.

However, Fr Chiti described the race for the presidency as tight because the voting pattern divided the country into two as the people of North and East voted for the PF while the people from South and West voted for the opposition UPND.

He said it was therefore incumbent upon the newly elected president needed to immediately reach out to his nearest rival Hakainde Hichilema and offer commiseration which might be a good gesture because it would help the defeated candidates to accept the results and see them as a reflection and as the will of the people .

Fr Chiti further said he was pretty sure that Hichilema would challenge the results by taking the matter to court because he was not happy with the election results and that would not surprise him.

He added that earlier Mr Hichilema had gone to court to stop the counting of the presidential results because he was not happy with the way the counting and transmission of results were done.

Blades open ‘sharp’ lead in promotion race

1

Konkola Blades opened a three point lead at the top of the FAZ Division One Zone Two table after beating Bresmer United 1-0 in a delayed match in Chililabombwe on Wednesday.

Forward Dickson Chapa scored the lone goal in the first half of this Week 20 match played at Konkola Stadium.

Chapa converted a penalty after Bresmar were penalised for a handball in the box.

The win pushed Konkola to 40 points, three above second placed Kitwe United after 20 matches.

Kitwe are sits on 37 points following Sunday’s frustrating 1-1 draw against Kansanshi Dynamos in Kitwe.

Indeni remain third on the table with 35 points despite suffering a 1-0 loss at Roan United in their last fixture.

FAZ DIVISION 1 ZONE 2 WEEK20 RESULTS

Zesco Solwezi 0-1 FQMO Mining

Kalulushi Modern Stars 1-0 ZNS Lwamfumu

Chingola Police 1-0 Chambishi

Copperbelt Buffaloes 0-0 Ndola United

Gomes 1-1 Mining Rangers

Kitwe United 1-1 Kansanshi Dynamos

Roan United 1-0 Indeni

Konkola Blades 1-0 Bresmar United

Rio Olympics poor showing not shocking-Matate

16

Rio2016Athletics icon Samuel Matete says Zambia’s dismal show at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games was inevitable.

In an interview in Kitwe on Wednesday, Zambia’s most decorated sportsman said the nation has not done much to produce athletes who can mint medals at major competitions like the Olympics.

Judoker Mathews Punza, boxer Ben Muziyo, swimmer Jade Howard, female runner Kabange Mupopo swimmer Ralph Goviea and 100 meters male runner Gerald Phiri have all bowed out of the games.

“We cannot talk about Zambian athletes winning medals at the Olympics now. What have we done where we are coming from? What have we done to win medals?” Matete remarked.

The 1996 Olympics Silver Medalist said national sports association’s needs to put in place deliberate measures that would enable Zambia produce medal winning athletes.

“We need long term strategic plans. Look at the grassroots development. The talent is there but we need to tap it.

“We have Olympics in 2020 and 2024 but what are we doing to ensure that we are ready to win medals at those events,” he said.

Long-distance runner Jordon Chipangama is the remaining medal hopeful and will be on the track on August 21 for the 41 kilometers marathon.

“As Zambia we still have a long to develop sport. We need to talk less and be more practical,” Matete concluded.

Matete won a gold medal at the 1991 World Championships and was twice silver medalist at the same event besides winning gold at the 1994 Commonwealth Games.

Matete later won a silver medal at the 1996 Olympics in Atlanta in what still is Zambia’s last medal at the World biggest showpiece event.

Zambia No Longer Leading Investment Destination In Africa Following Disputed Vote

President Lungu with First Lady Esther Lungu
President Lungu with First Lady Esther Lungu

A few days ago Africa’s second largest copper producer, Zambia, voted for a new president. The election pitted the representative of the status quo against an opposition candidate, Hakainde Hichilema, who has contested five times in the past ten years. With electorates across the globe opting for outsiders over the political elite thus far in 2016, many thought this would be the year for Zambia as well. Indeed, as early results from various constituencies rolled in, Hichilema appeared to have taken a comfortable lead. However, on Monday night, current President Edgar Lungu allegedly pulled ahead in the count, and was shortly thereafter declared the election winner.

What makes this election important is that the country bases its entire economy on one commodity and as a result has suffered badly in recent years. In 2015 GDP growth was down to 5.2% from 7.1% in the previous year; however, interest rates are at an all-time high of 15.5%. Inflation in June 2016 was down ever so slightly from the month before but still at over 20%. A staggering 25% youth unemployment rate has created further anguish.

So, in the light of these statistics, this election was crucial to the direction the country will take. As theFinancial Times reported in an article titled, “Ailing economy dominates Zambian election,” the electorate had a choice between “a populist incumbent championing social programs and a business-minded opposition leader who has pledged to fix the economy.” Well to me that statement is an eye opener because a country that is in dire trouble cannot afford funding for new social programs. Alternatively, building and diversifying the economy should be of paramount importance.

Mr. Lungu, the incumbent, ran on the current government’s infrastructure projects and as the Financial Times puts it again, “huge public sector wage increases approved.” Can anyone say buying votes? Well I think you know which side I would come down on, and I had hoped the majority of Zambia’s electorate agreed. Unfortunately they voted in favor of freebies rather than their future, in an election that appears to be tainted. What a shame. The country, the seventh largest investment destination in Africa in 2015, needs to expand its economy, not handouts.

Copper prices have been trading recently in a very narrow range in spite of strong Chinese demand for the commodity. China is responsible for about 45% of all copper produced globally, and there are predictions that prices will rise steadily over the next year as demand increases. Though recently Goldman Sachs has been of the opposite opinion stating that as demand rises, copper from places like Zambia will hit the market creating an oversupply and thereby driving down the price. We shall see. But what it does show is that if nothing else, a bout of volatility may soon be on the horizon.

So is there money to be made? Well there is the old standby (COPX) which is up 47% YTD, but I would draw the investors’ attention to Teck Resources (TCK), which is up a staggering 317% YTD. What accounts for this dramatic rise in the price of the stock? It’s not copper as one would think, but steel making coal, which is beginning to see a positive turn around. Teck, as the number one producer in North America and second largest exporter of that commodity, would be well positioned to take advantage of an increase in growth in the developing world driven primarily by the low cost of oil.

However, Zambia’s economic future is now very much in doubt. With 60% of the population living below the poverty line and a slowing economy, a country hailed by many as having a stable democracy may have a hole to climb out of before it can once gain attract meaningful FDI.

Peter Kohli is the CEO of emerging market specialist DMS Funds.

Zambia’s boxing star : Esther Phiri

Documentary about Zambia’s boxing star : Esther Phiri 

A film by Jessi Chissi and Salla Sorri

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JTfi3LY301s

Esther Phiri

Namwala Villagers armed with Spears battle with Zambia Police

48

zambiaPolicelogo

POLICE officers in Namwala district in Southern province have run serious battles with people of Maala village who were armed with spears.

Riots sparked in some parts of Southern province following the announcement of the Presidential elections results on Monday.

During the riots in Namwala’s Maala village that started on Monday evening, 15 houses belonging to Patriotic Front (PF) supporters were burnt and another family was attacked in an area called Kabulamwaanda.

The situation was similar in Mandondo area as one house was burnt.

Southern Province Police Commissioner Godwin Phiri said the police officers that arrived at the scene in Namwala were met with resistance as villagers were armed with spears as they fought back.

“The Police penetrated Maala despite resistance by spearmen,” he said.

He said after penetration the Police managed to arrest 12 people.

On Tuesday the police arrested about 150 people in different parts of the province for rioting.

Of the 150 riotous 116 have been charged with riotous behaviour, with nine charged for malicious damage to property while five charged with assault of causing bodily harm.

The rest of the charges are seven for assault of police officers and four for Arson.

Mr Phiri said four dockets for the alleged offences have been opened.

Meanwhile the matter involving some of the suspects in Choma failed to take off at the Choma magistrates court and the matter has since been adjourned to September 14 2016.

And ormer Foreign Affairs Minister, Harry Kalaba has challenged the UPND leadership to emulate President Edgar Lungu who has directed his supporters country-wide to remain peaceful.

Mr. Kalaba told ZNBC News in Lusaka the UPND leadership has a duty to protect the peace, which the country has enjoyed since independence.

He said it is only UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema who can stop the post- election violence which has been reported in his party’s strongholds.

Mr. Kalaba who is also Bahati PF Member of Parliament said the violence being witnessed in some parts of the country must be stopped.

And the Patriotic Front -PF- says it is not right for the UPND to make their strongholds inhabitable for other Zambians who do not support their party.

PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya says the party is disturbed by the prevailing situation in Southern and Western Provinces where PF members are reportedly being harassed.

Mr Bwalya has called on Police to ensure PF members and other members of the public are protected.

But UPND Secretary General Stephen Katuka has distanced his members from reports of political violence.

Meanwhile Zambia Police spokesperson, Rae Hamoonga said calm has retained in some areas that witnessed post election violence.

Mr. Hamoonga said the Police are still keeping vigil and warned that they will NOT tolerate lawlessness in the country.

UNDP spends US$ 8 million to support Zambia’s Electoral Processs

10

-Hundreds of Kyawama residents queuing up to cast their votes in the General elections at Kyawama secondary school polling station on Thursday in Solwezi . Picture by BETRAM KAOMA/ZANIS
FILE: Hundreds of Kyawama residents queuing up to cast their votes in the General elections at Kyawama secondary school polling station on Thursday in Solwezi . Picture by BETRAM KAOMA/ZANIS
THE United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) has spent US$ 8 million to support the electoral process in Zambia from 2015 to-date, governance advisor Michael Soko has said.

Mr Soko said the funding was meant to support the country’s five-year electoral cycle to achieve the intended objective of having a top quality, credible and transparent election.

He said the basket funds were made available with contributions from the European Union (EU), United Kingdom Department for International Development, United States Agency for International Development and Irish Aid.

Speaking in an interview in Livingstone, Mr Soko said the broad based support was targeted at institutions which affects the electoral process such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Judiciary among others.

Recently, the UNDP supported the final orientation programme for newly appointed members of the Local Government Elections Tribunals which was held at AVANI Victoria Falls in Livingstone.

The tribunals, which will be spread in all 10 provinces of Zambia to hear and determine local government elections petitions, will be headed by magistrates who will be supported by lawyers and their appeals will be going straight to the Constitutional Court.

Mr Soko also hoped that the Local Government Elections Tribunals would speed up the process of dealing with election petitions.

“UNDP together with contributing partners are pleased to extend support to the Judiciary in fulfilling the constitution requirement of establishing Local Government Election Tribunals.

“This should go a long way in meeting the aspiration of the Zambian people especially to ensure effective delivery of justice as justice delayed is justice denied,” Mr Soko said.

Times Printpak Zambia Legal Counsel Justin Chitengi has been appointed to be a member of the Local Government Elections Tribunals.

Other lawyers, who are members of the Tribunals, are Harriet Mdala, Saviour Nsomboshi, Francis Mwale, Hope Misozi, Joseph Mwila Chimembe, Ngosa Mwila Simachela, Eddie Mwitwa, Sashi Kateka, Maureen Mwanza, Charles Sinkala, Mulopa Ndalameta, Mando Muwitumwa, Mwenya Kapasa, Mubanga Kalimamukweto, Daniel Sichombo, Mura Kapamba, Frederick Imasiku, Chibesa Maimbo, Lubumbe Kayuni, Priscar Bwebya, Vincent Mwewa, Natalie Mulenga, Fannie Tembo, Mulawo Mwaba, Mileji Gift and Chishimba Lamba.