22, 000 monitors set for August polls

ABOUT 22, 000 election monitors will be deployed by the Democratic and Motherland Defenders Coalition (DMDC) to monitor Zambia’s August the general elections.

And the coalition has requested the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to participate in conducting an independent audit of the voter’s register.

DMDC spokesperson, Andrew Ntewewe, said at a media briefing that the coalition would stand vigilant in monitoring elections.

Mr Ntewewe, who is the Young African Leaders

Initiative (YALI) President, said the coalition would protect the country from foreign interference in its electoral system.

He said the coalition noted with sadness systematic meddling and an attempt to discredit the governance system of the country by some foreign missions.

“We advise the diplomatic missions to operate within the legal framework of their missions in line with the Vienna Convention. We remind the diplomatic community to avoid the temptation to be biased, they must avoid the temptation to get involved in local politics,” the coalition said.

Meanwhile, the coalition has urged the ECZ to begin instituting measures that would guide the country in adhering to the prescribed coronavirus protocols during the election period.

M Ntewewe proposed that the ECZ should coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in implementing covid-19 measures by limiting the number of international observers.