UPND elections a sham - ZIGCLAP
Zambian Institute of Governance and Civil Liberties Advocacy Platform (ZIGCLAP ) says the UPND has failed the litmus test of conducting transparent elections by denying accreditation to many civil society entities that wanted to monitor the intra-party elections.
Francis Chipili, ZIGCLAP director has also questioned the UPND president position going unopposed, thus questioning the party’s internal democracy.
According to CAMNET news monitored yesterday, Mr Chipili said it was unacceptable for the UPND to have the party president go unopposed considering that the party has not conducted any election over a period of 10 years. “It is clear that there is intimidation within the UPND.”
“It is unacceptable in the 21st century to have members intimidated and fail to participate or challenge the incumbent
Mr Chipili said , ”we are disappointed with the manner the UPND has conducted itself during its intra party elections. The republican constitution has a provision which dictates that all political parties must regularly conduct intra-party elections, however, what is obtaining in the UPND is total mockery of democracy.”
Mr Chipili said the UPND as Zambia’s largest political party must demonstrate its commitment to nurturing and promotion of the growth of democracy in the country through its internal party elections.
Meanwhile the UPND National Management Committee, the highest decision making body of the opposition UPND has been dissolved and new office bearers voted in at yesterday’s General Assembly.
An inside source said the first task for new NMC would be to oversee the amendment to the party constitution and preside over other party matters.
The UPND elective convention is being managed by the Civil Society for Constitution Agenda (CiSCA) led by Judith Mulenga as Chairperson.
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema, unopposed presidential candidate in the UPND intraparty vote, was on hand to cast his ballot shortly after commencement of voting at the UPND secretariat at 15:40.
About 2, 915 delegation of voters were expected to elect 76 members to the NMC.
UPND officials yesterday gathered in various regional conferences to elect new office bearers and deliberate on other party matters including making amendments to the party constitution.
GOVERNMENT’S initiative to cushion the possible increase in fuel prices is a demonstration that it listens to the cries of the people, an energy expert has said.
Johnstone Chikwanda said Government has shown leadership through mitigating the shortage of fuel and a possible increase in the price of the commodity.
Mr Chikwanda said in an interview that Government should be commended for ensuring that the fuel flow in the country was back to normal.
He said this followed a series of Government’s intervention including the removal of 25 per cent customs duty and 16 Value Added Tax (VAT) on fuel imports.
“Information on the ground is that in a short space of time, the national fuel stock level has significantly improved and continues to increase thereby increasing the energy security in the country,” he said.
Meanwhile, the energy expert has urged the energy regulation board (ERB) to continue protecting the integrity of the supply chain and ensure that fuel is not smuggled out of the country.Mr Chikwanda said fuel in Zambia has become cheaper than in some neighboring countries with a combined removal of taxes of more than 41per cent in total.
He said such a scenario could lead to smuggling of fuel to other destinations by illegal dealers, who would want to cash in.
Mr. Chikwanda has commended the leading Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) for demonstrating industry statesmanship by ensuring that the fuel situation in the country is normalized.
WASHINGTON - US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen stressed the need for the Group of Seven countries to “go big” with fiscal stimulus to support economic recovery from the global pandemic.
In her first call with foreign counterparts and central bankers from the G-7, Yellen said that “the time to go big is now” and that the group should focus on how to help the economy, the US Treasury Department said in a statement after the virtual meeting.
The online gathering of finance chiefs from the world’s top industrial economies addressed a proposed expansion in the International Monetary Fund’s lending firepower along with digital taxation and climate change.
The US is leaning toward backing an increase in the IMF’s special drawing rights, or SDRs, by as much as
$500 billion, Bloomberg News reported earlier this month. The fund has been lobbying for more help to support developing nations against the Covid-19 crisis.
The G-7 discussed increasing the IMF’s resources during the weekend call, and the group expects a decision to be announced later this month on the back of a Group of 20 discussion, according to one person familiar with the matter.
The finance ministers’ goal in the talks was to build momentum around helping developing nations, the person said on the condition of anonymity.
UK Chancellor of the Exchequer Rishi Sunak, who hosted the virtual meeting, also stressed the importance of the G-7 “shaping support for vulnerable countries,” according to a statement from his office.
The US has a de facto veto in the IMF on the decision, and former Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had previously blocked the fund’s requests to boost its special drawing rights.
Yellen highlighted in the call that there’s a new tone out of Washington. The US “places a high priority on deepening our international engagement and strengthening our alliances,” she said, according to the Treasury’s statement.
On fiscal policy, the US is among the most aggressive, with the Biden administration pursuing a $1.9 trillion package in Congress. – BLOOMBERG NEWS.