The Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ- has cancelled a ban on political rallies imposed by outspoken Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Jere saying it not his mandate to do so.
On Sunday Dr. Jere announced the ban on political rallies in the fourth-coming parliamentary by-elections.
He attributed the ban to political violence.
Commission Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna has said in a statement that it is regrettable for Dr. Jere to confuse and mislead the public.
Mr. Akufuna clarifies that political party campaigns including rallies in Mpongwe and Livingstone constituencies will only end on February 26th, 2013 at zero six hours.
He says the Commission is not aware of any ban of political party campaigns as stated by Dr Jere.
He says it is a mandate of the ECZ to set up an election time table, including a campaign timetable which should be respected by all stakeholders without exception.
Mr. Akufuna says the commission regrets the confusion arising from the statement made by the deputy Inspector General of Police.
Earlier UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema vowed to defy Dr. Jere’s directive and go ahead with a public rally in Livingstone.
Their MMD counterparts also defied Dr. Jere’s ban held a public rally in Dambwa South area in Livingstone Constituency this afternoon as party deputy National secretary Chembe Nyangu disclosed.
Earlier Civil Societal Organizations urged the Zambia Police Service to act professionally and rescind the decision to ban the holding of campaign rallies in Livingstone and Mpongwe ahead of this Thursday’s by-elections.
The Civil Societal Organizations which included AVAP, FODEP, SACCORD, ZCID and the Zambia National Women’s Lobby contended that banning of campaign rallies ninety six hours ahead of the polls could be a recipe and fertile ground for unnecessary electoral petitions.
Speaking on behalf of the five organizations at joint press briefing in Lusaka this afternoon, ZNWL Executive Director Juliet Chibuta noted that the Police had overstepped its boundaries to contradict Regulation Seven of the Electoral Code of Conduct which empowers only the ECZ to censure acts of political parties during an election.