DP slams ECZ conduct

THE Democratic Party (DP) is distressed and dismayed by the conduct of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in the manner it was abrogating its responsibilities and mandate of managing free and fair elections in the country.

DP president, Harry Kalaba, said it was shocking that ECZ prevented their candidate to file nominations on Tuesday.

“I’m disappointed in the manner the commission, the main player in the political dispersion of the country, are slowly abrogating the law,” he said.

He said ECZ ignored the formal correspondence from the legally constituted national secretary of DP.

Mr Kalaba explained that the party formally communicated with ECZ advising them that there were imposters whose agenda was to derail the party thereby denying the people of Zambia free and fair participation in the democratic space.

“While, we appreciate that there is an active case in the courts of law, there is a secretary and the ECZ has been communicating with, therefore we are shocked and disappointed that the ECZ refused the DP candidate to participate in the nominations of Kabwata parliamentary seat, Lianganzi and Sokotwe local government by –election.

“As a party we shall not sit and watch them abrogate the rights of the people,” said Mr Kalaba. And Mr Kalaba said the DP would forever spearhead freedom of expression as well as advancing the calls for the under-privileged in society.

He said the DP will continue pushing for equality in the governance system of the nation while holding the government accountable to the people.

Mr Kalaba said the country’s freedom of expression was slowly coming to an end as many opposition political parties were being oppressed by the party in power.