ECZ sets up committees to resolve conflicts
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has established Conflict Management Committees and Political Party Liaison Committees to resolve electoral conflicts at both district and national levels, Senior Public Relations Officer Sylvia Bwalya said yesterday.
Ms Bwalya said this was revealed at a meeting which ECZ held with the United Party for National Development (UPND) on Monday to discuss the electoral environment ahead of the Sesheke parliamentary by-election on February 12, 2019.
She said in a statement that political parties must make use of the committees to resolve political conflicts that might arise during an election.
Ms Bwalya said the introduction of the committees was to ensure that there was a fair playing field during elections.
“During the meeting, the UPND raised a number of issues concerning the electoral environment. The ECZ would like to assure all stakeholders and the public that it takes seriously issues of electoral environment before and after elections.
The ECZ also stresses the fact that it is independent and is not subject to any authority in execution of its duties and mandate. To this effect we have put in place Conflict Management Committees and Political Party Laison Committees to resolve electoral conflicts at districts and national levels,” Ms Bwalya said.
She said the ECZ had arranged a number of stakeholder meetings prior to the Sesheke polls.
It would also collaborate with the police and political parties participating in the by-elections regarding the campaign timetable to avoid clashes, she said.
She said the ECZ was already on the ground to monitor the situation where by-elections would be held and stakeholders and the nation at large would be updated on the happenings.