CCMG SLAMS NDOLA, KITWE DEPUTY MAYOR ELECTORAL ‘MINGALATO’

CHRISTIAN Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) is deeply concerned by the orchestrated arbitrary arrest of opposition political party members ahead of Ndola and Kitwe deputy mayoral elections recently.

The grouping is concerned that on March 28, 2024, Patriotic Front Ndola Mayor Jones Kalyati and two PF Kitwe councillors were arrested on undisclosed charges by police on the eve of deputy mayoral elections.

The CCMG said this in a statement issued yesterday and signed by Bishop Andrew Mwenda, executive director of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Fr Emmanuel Chikoya, secretary general of Council of Christian Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Fr Francis Mukosa, secretary general of the Zambia Council of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) and Fr Alex Muyebe, executive director of the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflections.

Fr Muyebe, who is CCMG spokesperson said the arrests of the civic leaders prevented them from participating in the deputy mayoral elections which saw UPND candidates win by a narrow margin.

“This development raises serious questions about the integrity and impartiality of Zambia’s public institutions like the Zambia Police Service whose mandate is to enforce the law fairly for all citizens regardless of political affiliation while safeguarding democratic governance,” Fr Muyebe said.

Fr Muyebe said while CCMG recognised the need to uphold the rule of law and due process, the arrests had however undermined the integrity of elections and democratic governance.

He said the arrests of opposition political leaders also eroded public trust in both the electoral system and the police.

“These arrests can be interpreted as partisan and CCMG urges the police to exercise professionalism, impartiality and fairness in their conduct to publicly release information to the charges and necessity of the timing of the arrests, and to conduct and internal investigation into the matter,” Fr Muyebe said.