Back electoral body, Zambians told

LUSAKA. – Zambia’s 5 166 088 voters head to the polls tomorrow in a special election to choose a new president for the copper-rich Southern African nation and replace Michael Sata, who died on October 28, 2014 in the United Kingdom.

Eleven candidates were confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to contest the poll.

The contest is expected to be close between two frontrunners – Defence and Justice Minister Edgar Lungu (58), and opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema (52).

Meanwhile, some civil society organisations (CSOs) have appealed to all political parties and the nation at large to give maximum support to the ECZ for it to adequately carry out its mandate.

The appeal was made in Lusaka following some disparaging remarks against the commission by some stakeholders alleging it would rig the January 20 presidential election. Southern Africa Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes executive director Boniface Chembe said undermining ECZ can erode public confidence in the commission to deliver credible elections.

Chembe said when public confidence is eroded, it becomes difficult for the electoral body to do its work. “When confidence in the ECZ is lost, people will doubt election results when they are announced,” he said.

Chembe said all stakeholders must channel their concerns to the electoral body without causing public alarm.

And Foundation for Democratic Process executive director McDonald Chipenzi says accusations against ECZ may force people not to accept election results. According to Chipenzi, in other countries, undermining an electoral body has resulted in people turning to violence and installing their preferred candidates.

He said in other instances, it can breed voter apathy because people may feel there is no need to cast their vote if elections results are pre-determined.

Chipenzi has urged stakeholders to address their concerns with ECZ before going to the media. “I appeal to ECZ to quickly resolve issues that may cause suspicion for the sake of peace,” he said.

Meanwhile, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection director Father Leonard Chiti said when stakeholders make claims about rigging, they should back them with evidence. Father Chiti said he doubted if there is evidence to that effect adding, “if ECZ conducted free and fair elections in 2011, why should the commission be doubted now”?

He said speculations that ECZ intends to rig elections can stir trouble in the country. Father Chiti said ECZ is doing its best and is open to dialogue with any stakeholder that has concerns. The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG), a consortium of four faith-based organisations has also called on the Zambia Police Service and other security agencies to guarantee the security and safety of all citizens during tomorrow’s presidential election.

In a joint statement released in Lusaka on Saturday and signed by the four faith-based organisations that constitute CCMG, the clergymen said the police service should put in place measures that will ensure people vote freely without political violence. The four organisations that signed the statement include Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia, Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR) and Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC).

The statement was signed by Reverend Susanne Matale (CCZ), Reverend Pukuta Mwanza (EFZ), Father Clephas Lungu (ZEC) and Father Leonard Chiti (JCTR).

“The free will of the people must be unfettered in this election. As for us as CCMG together with other monitoring partners, we shall be present in every part of this country where voting will take place. We shall be the eyes and ears of the people in our quest to protect their free will of choice,” the statement read in part.

CCMG also expressed concern over the increase in political violence describing it as shameful and embarrassing.

“For a country that has prided itself to be an oasis of peace and has a track record of peaceful elections since 1991, it is indeed a shame. And we condemn in the strongest term, the political violence that has characterised the campaigns of this presidential election,” the statement reads. – Wires.