EU OBSERVERS PRAISE ZAMBIA’S GROWING DEMOCRACY AHEAD OF AUGUST POLLS
By: Mwema Shanshima
The European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) has described Zambia as a distinct country with a clear sense of identity and growing political plurality.
The Deputy Chief Observer, Dr. Beata Martin-Rozumilowicz, noted that the current campaign environment reflects principled standards that uphold human rights, freedoms of assembly, and the ability of the opposition to coexist.
Dr. Martin explained that the mission’s long-term methodology focuses on how political parties participate and the extent to which democratic charters are respected.
She said the mission will assess how voters are receiving campaign messages from different parties and their capacity to make informed choices about candidates.
The Deputy Chief Observer added that once the mission has engaged with all political players, it will be better positioned to identify key issues and challenges ahead of the August 13 general elections.
Outlining the mission’s mandate, Dr. Martin expressed four hopes for the polls: campaigns free of violence, an inclusive process, transparency at every stage, and the resolution of disputes through dialogue and the rule of law.
The EU EOM is in Zambia at the invitation of the Government and will present its preliminary statement on August 15 in Lusaka.
#SunFmTvNews