By Isaac Zulu
The Electoral Commission of Zambia must be headed by a person that would not be used as a rubber stamp by the appointing authority, says a ruling UPND officials in Lusaka Province.
And Chilikwazi has stated that no life should be lost because of an election.
Chilikwazi has stated that the UPND administration must work towards restoring confidence in the Electoral Commission of Zambia, which he said should not be headed by a person that would be used as “a rubber stamp by the appointing authority.”
He said that most Zambians had lost confidence in the Electoral Commission of Zambia owing to “its perceived compromised position that were being raised by political players and electoral stakeholders, and this made the electoral body to lose integrity.”
“The Electoral Commission of Zambia is an independent electoral management body, which is established under Article 229 of the Republican Constitution. And by virtue of it being an independent electoral body, the Electoral Commission of Zambia is not subject to direction by government, political party or any other authority,” explained Chilikwazi, who is UPND Lusaka district vice information and publicity secretary. “But during the time of Justice Esau Chulu and Patrick Nshindano the Electoral Commission of Zambia failed to live up to its core values which include non-partisanship, objectivity and transparency. This led to most electoral stakeholders losing confidence in this institution such that the electoral body lost integrity. So my appeal to the appointing authority is that individuals that will be mandated to spearhead the Electoral Commission of Zambia should restore the lost confidence and integrity of the electoral body.”
He said that what Zambians want is an autonomous electoral body that would deliver credible and fair elections.
“And level playing field is important in an election so that all political players and electoral stakeholders have the freedom to hold and attend election campaign rallies,” he said.
Chilikwazi also said that no life should be lost because of an election.
“What used to happen in the past where hooliganism and political violence was the order of the day, such that people were maiming and killing each other during election campaigns should not be allowed again in this country,” stated Chilikwazi. “No life should be lost because of an election. As political players, we should know that there is life after an election, just like there’s life after politics.”
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