CCZ SAYS ECZ INACTION ON OBSERVER REPORTS DISCOURAGING ELECTION MONITORING
By Elesani Phiri
The Council of Churches in Zambia-CCZ-says the failure by the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ-to act on recommendations arising from election observation reports is among the major reasons discouraging civil society organizations and the church from monitoring by-elections.
CCZ Secretary General Reverend Canon James Phiri says election observers are increasingly questioning the value of committing financial and human resources to monitoring electoral processes when their findings on alleged vote buying, voter intimidation and misuse of state resources are repeatedly overlooked by relevant institutions.
Reverend Phiri says CCZ has also suffered financial losses following the withdrawal of candidates after preparations for election monitoring had already been made, citing the Mandevu parliamentary by-election, where resources had been committed and 10 long-term observers deployed before some candidates withdrew.
He has urged the ECZ to introspect and address concerns raised by election observers, stressing that meaningful engagement should result in electoral reforms and enforcement of the electoral code of conduct rather than merely validating the electoral process.
His comment comes after the ECZ expressed concern over the apparent withdrawal of the church and some CSOs from observing recent by-elections, raising questions about the level of independent monitoring and accountability in electoral processes.
PHOENIX NEWS