Opposition in panic mode - DNA

By BENNIE MUNDANDO THE opposition is in panic mode over the 2021 elections and that is why they are crying over the printing of ballot papers locally which they are claiming would help the ruling party win, the Zambian DNA has said.

Zambia DNA spokesperson Spuki Mulemwa said the opposition UPND’s claims that the 2021 elections has already been rigged following President Edgar Lungu’s policy guidance on having the ballot papers printed locally revealed how desperate the party had become.

Mr. Mulemwa said it was sad that the UPND and some other opposition political parties and governance activists in an alliance with the media outlets hostile to Government had opposed the printing of ballot papers locally on allegations that President Lungu had interfered with the independence of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

He said it was baseless for the loose alliance of organisations to question President Lungu’s role in the running of ECZ because the President enjoys full executive powers to provide policy guidance to Government institutions on various critical national issues, including cheaper ways of printing ballot papers.

“Therefore, President Lungu is duty-bound to counsel the ECZ on the cheaper ways of printing the ballot papers. It’s also worth noting that the President does not only play an oversight role in the running of ECZ by appointing the ECZ chairperson and other judges as commissioners, but also provides policy guidance. However, UPND and its allies wrongly criticize the President Lungu’s timely policy guidance to ECZ on how to reduce the cost of printing ballot papers.

“As for the rigging of 2021 elections claims, the opposition UPND and its allies are not only gripped with the election fever of losing the presidency to Lungu a sixth time, but also deliberately elected to mislead and misinform the nation on such a critical national issue,” Mr. Mulemwa said.

He advised the UPND to look beyond the petty arguments they were advancing over the matter by looking at it as a cost-saving directive.

“Zambian DNA advises the opposition UPND and its allies to appreciate President Lungu’s timely wise counsel to the electoral body, and his concern for the huge chunk of meagre resources the printing of ballot papers abroad gobbles, which the Government needs to help provide the much-needed social services.

“They should also engage the Zambian people on issues, including the printing of ballot papers, with national interest and not a narrow partisan and selfish agenda.

We urge Zambians to ignore the UPND’s habitual stance to oppose any Government idea, and support Government as the idea to print ballot papers locally is for their own benefit. We are also appealing to President Lungu not to entertain the cry baby UPND and their allies detract him from doing the right things for the Zambian people,” he said.