By Isaac Zulu
There should be no vote buying, violence and abuse of government resources in the forthcoming by-elections, more so that the elections were triggered by some candidate’s involvement in such vices, says GEARS.
Speaking with Daily Revelation, Governance, Elections Advocacy and Research Services (GEARS) Initiative executive director MacDonald Chipenzi said that politics should be a contest of ideas and policies among political players.
Chipenzi observed that the forthcoming Kabushi and Kwacha parliamentary by-elections were triggered by electoral malpractices such as vote buying and abuse of public resources; hence the need for political players to adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct.
“As the by-elections approach, GEARS Initiative expect total adherence to the provisions of the Code of Conduct on elections. We don’t expect reports of vote buying, abuse of government facilities and resources, violence and corruption,” Chipenzi said. “More so that these elections have been triggered by some candidates engagement into such vices. Politics must be a contest of ideas, policies and programmes and not about (distribution of) money, insults, fists or fraudsterism.”
He said that this also provides an opportunity for the Anti-Corruption Commission to prove its ability to curb electoral malpractices.
“This is also an opportunity for the Anti-Corruption Commission to prove a difference in ridding the electoral process of corruption, irregularities and malpractice,” he said. “Therefore, GEARS Initiative does not expect any violence just like in previous by-elections that were held in a peaceful way since the new dawn administration came into power.”
Chipenzi also said that Zambians are tired of political parties that are only appear on paper, but only become active during general elections, stating that there is need for all political parties to take part in by-elections in order to gauge their popularity.
“We also expect political parties to desire to compete in the by-elections to prove and gauge their political and electoral popularity. The country is tired of political parties that exist and only are active on paper at the Registrar of Societies and also in newspapers, radio, television and social media yet are not anywhere near on the ground,” said Chipenzi. “Ivory tower politics must come to pass so that the country is treated to real and practical politics.”
