Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has questioned the circumstances that led to the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s decision to halt the filing of nominations for Malambo and Petauke Central by-elections, saying the move reeks of bad faith.
“Some years back, Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Darius Mumba was stopped from filing his nomination papers on account of alleged corruption,” Mr Lungu, who is also PF chairperson for legal affairs, said in Petauke yesterday.“When this happened, the ECZ went ahead with the filing process and did not halt or postpone the process…today, however, under similar circumstances, the ECZ has decided to side with the opposition again. To me, this is a clear demonstration of bias.”
Mr Lungu said: “As a result of this open bias, we have no choice but to call for new blood at the ECZ. We strongly feel some people have overstayed and lost touch with reality and must pave way for new blood.”
The minister said the ECZ needed “no further consultation after the Judiciary passed the landmark decision to bar corrupt candidates but here they are stuck in the moment again…it’s time for radical change”.
And Vice-President Guy Scott says he is disappointed at the postponement of the nominations for the three by-elections.
“The Patriotic Front was ready for the nominations. We came with the zeal to win all the seats and we are sad that our candidates cannot file nominations…. but we will be back,” Dr Scott said.
The Vice-President was speaking at Jumbe Primary School in Malambo constituency when he received 50 defectors from the MMD and UPND.
Dr Scott urged the defectors not to be discouraged by the postponement of the filing of nominations.
“You are welcome to the pro-poor party that is focused on development. Let’s progress and work together to ensure that Malambo constituency develops,” he said.
UPND vice-president Canisius Banda also complained about the postponement.
“We have spent a lot of money to prepare for this event and we are totally unhappy with what has happened,” he said.
Meanwhile the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has won praise for deferring nominations in three of the four parliamentary by-elections scheduled for September 5th.
The by-elections whose nominations were supposed to take place yesterday but have been deferred to 13th August, following a statement from the Judiciary, are Petauke Central, Malambo and Mulobezi.
Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says the postponement of the filing of nominations for the three by-elections will enable the ECZ allow only candidates eligible to take part in the polls.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Chembe has also suggested that the ECZ should have also postponed the nominations for the Mkaika by-election in order to sustain a level playing field for political parties taking part in the four by-elections.
Mr. Chembe has also reiterated the need for the ECZ to call for a national dialogue meeting for all political parties to discuss in detail the Electoral law in order to ascertain any areas that maybe in conflict to holding free and fair elections in the country.
The SACCORD Executive Director was speaking in an interview with Qfm.
[QFM,Daily Mail]