By Agness Changala
Stay away from tribal talk, Citizens’ First (CF) leader Harry Kalaba has told Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis.
Responding to Zaloumi’s remarks to Daily Revelation Newspaper that those talking about the composition of the ECZ now being tribal should also interrogate the composition of the previous leadership at the commission, and that rather than focusing on the tribal composition, people should be judged on their capability rather than tribal inclinations, Kalaba accused Zaloumis of now taking politics to the ECZ.
He urged Zaloumis to stay away from such talk.
“I think she should stay away from that. The Electoral commission of Zambia must be firm. They are quick to declare winners that UPND has carried the day, they have won, but when you tell them that look what is presiding over these victories, it is bad, they are distributing things, they are giving money buying everything … They are doing all these things and the Electoral Commission of Zambia is turning a blind eye to that. So what are they talking about, they are speaking from the comfort of their offices,” Kalaba said.
Last Tuesday, Zaloumis said people must focus on the capability of ECZ commissioners rather than their tribal inclinations, and wondered whether the same people raising issues also interrogated the composition of the previous leadership at the commission.
But Kalaba said if he were Zaloumis, he would keep quiet saying some things are better left for others to speak.
He said the chairperson is in a public office and many accusations will be thrown at her but she should not get to speed.
“If I was her, I would just keep quiet, some stories or some things are better left for others to speak, not herself. She should not take part in partisan politics at the commission,” Kalaba said. “You know those who are accusing her, that’s a public office she is in. Anybody will cast aspersions on her and she should not get to her speed.”
He said the ECZ is for all Zambians and it’s a very emotive institution because it decides who takes power.
“This is for all Zambians and remember it’s a very emotive institution because it decides who takes over power. And therefore, she should allow Zambians to speak as they want to speak and she should not be a politician. We never heard Judge Esau Chulu when he was at the ECZ responding to anything. We never heard Mr. Patrick Nshindano when he was there responding to anything. They were just doing their work professionally. We saw the professional work they did. There was a change of government from one government to another government. That’s a big thing. Say whatever you want to say about them but it’s a big thing that they did that. They managed to stay course and ensured that Zambia’s interest was protected,” said Kalaba. “We expect the chairperson of the commission to take a cue from the way those people handled themselves there. Not to begin responding to things of tribe, region, things of what. She shouldn’t concern herself with those things. Otherwise the commission will generate into politics.”
He also said ECZ should learn to call stakeholders and have meetings with them and not just be issuing political statements concerning whatever she says.
Kalaba said it is a requirement that every quarter, political parties should be interacting with the ECZ, but ever since they went into those offices, they have done nothing and Kalaba wondered who they were meeting and what they were discussing.
