By Staff Reporter
Newly appointed Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) commissioner Macdonald Chipenzi says he is ready to discuss people’s fears over his appointment to the electoral body, adding that “if they are afraid of UPND then what do they do because the UPND is there in power?”
Asked by Daily Revelation what he was doing to allay the fears of some sections of society who view him too affiliated to UPND to serve in a body that conducts elections, Chipenzi said he would not allay fears of the people he did not know to be afraid.
“Let those who are afraid approach me and we talk so that if I bite then I can bite then they can come with somebody to help them remove my teeth from their face,” Chipenzi said. “If they say we are afraid of Macdonald then they should come out in the open. If they are afraid of UPND then what do they do because the UPND is there in power? How can you be afraid of something that you elected? So don’t be afraid of me I am just a human being, they can come we can discuss what their fears are. But to tell you the truth as a democrat I am enjoying the debate.”
Chipenzi said he was eminently qualified for the position he has been appointed to, saying what mattered was not the opinions of the people but the law.
Asked on assertions by Transparency International Zambia (TIZ) that he must renounce asserted affiliation to the UPND and assure the public that he would serve in a neutral and professional manner, Chipenzi said he laughed at those submissions as he and those from TIZ were coming from the same civil society sector, and having been working together and “from that you can deduce who is saying what.”
Asked specifically on asserted party affiliation, Chipenzi responded: “You know Emmanuel Mwamba? Do you know that Emmanuel applied when he was High Commissioner for South Africa? Do you know that he also applied when he was at the African Union, serving as permanent representative for Kasama? Do you know that?”
Told that indeed what Ambassador Mwamba did was wrong, including the other diplomats he served with who were seeking political office, but he could not use their wrong to justify another wrong, especially that people voted out the PF and expected a new government to do things differently. But responding, Chipenzi said he has never applied for any position in the UPND.
He said the people who were talking did not know him and were basing their opinions on hearsay, saying even when he served as a journalist, people still accused him of working with the UPND, adding that he has never applied to stand on the UPND ticket in Siavonga since he was born.
“Me I am a public figure you know that and whatever I have done I have been very open. And that’s why maybe I am too vocal for everyone else. So when I want to stand I will announce that I have decided to stand. And it will be all of you to say oh! Now you are standing, which party and so on and so forth?” said Chipenzi.
