ECZ FAILING ZAMBIANS

THERE is no doubt that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has lost credibility, that it is not an honest broker in running the country’s elections.

What is saddening though is that the ECZ, and indeed the powers-that-be has closed their ears to any advice from stakeholders pointing out their shortcomings.

Thus, the warning issued by the Operation Young Vote (OYV) is one that should be taken seriously to protect the country from degenerating into chaos.

The OYV has warned for example that continued blocking of the Patriotic Front (PF) from participating in the many by-elections by the ECZ portends danger for the country.

It says it is nothing but systematic rigging by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) in collusion with the ECZ.

It is a trend that Zambians have witnessed through the many -elections held, whether at parliamentary or local government level, that has been worsened by the leadership rift within the Patriotic Front.

The ECZ has conveniently ignored the ongoing court cases involving the leadership of the PF, the former ruling party and country’s largest opposition grouping.

It has decided to side with one of the contending factions, under Mr Miles Sampa because that is the group favoured by the ruling UPND.

It has thus made it easy for the Sampa faction to field candidates because the ECZ has decided that aspiring candidates only need to be endorsed by the party president.

Thus, candidates from the mainstream PF are disqualified citing vague reasons that have to do with improper filing procedures.

Yet, this was a party that was not only in government for decade but also spent several years in the opposition such that it should know how to file nominations for its candidates.

We agree with the OYV executive director, Mr Guess Nyirenda, who argues that the ECZ should never be seen as aiding the ruling party to enjoy undeserved victories in the by-elections by blocking the PF, the country’s largest opposition political party from contesting in the by-elections.

Mr Nyirenda said the ECZ should never think they were the alpha and the omega who could decide who should participate in an election or not because it was but a neutral umpire and should therefore avoid disenfranchising citizens.

He said in an interview yesterday that there is a growing perception that the current ECZ had become an appendage of the party in government and was largely politically partisan in their discharge of their mandate.

“The ECZ has no right whatsoever to block any candidate that meets all the qualification of an aspiring candidate, including being sponsored by a political party from participating or contesting in any election.

Mr Nyirenda warned that the country may easily descend into political chaos if the ECZ continues to block the PF from participating in elections.

He recalled that what was happening was exactly what transpired during the Bowman Lusambo and Joseph Malanji saga in which the courts of law declared the two eligible to recontest their seats but were unconstitutionally blocked by the ECZ.

Mr Lusambo lost the Kabushi seat in Ndola while Mr Malanji lost the Kwacha seat in Kitwe which the PF was poised to retain comfortably until the decided otherwise.

“The ECZ cannot continue to disenfranchise citizens in a democracy. The electorates have a choice as to who should lead them and it cannot be the ECZ to indirectly choose leaders for the voters by eliminating competitors to the ruling party.

Mr Nyirenda pointed out, the mandate for the ECZ is to facilitate the holding of the elections and not to participate.

The ECZ owes it to Zambians to serve their interests and ensure that democracy flourishes through free and