The UPND president Hakainde Hichilema has poured cold water on the meeting held at Mulungushi International Conference Centre in Lusaka by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for party Presidents and Secretary Generals, saying it was a hoax.
Hichilema said ECZ pointed out during the meeting that they are not concerned about how the National Registration Cards issuance process is going, when they are aware that without it one cannot be a voter.
He also said the opposition parties and citizens should not be stopped from commenting on the manner in which the whole election preparatory process is being carried out, when they are sure that what is being done is not right.
“They cannot suggest that we must not say those things alleging that we are alarming people and we should be arrested for what, We are not alarming people, that is a joke.
“There must be rule of law. There must be no violence, there must be a fair registration process,” he said.
He added that come 2021, no one will be allowed to disrespect the people’s decision.
Meanwhile, NDC president Chishimba Kambwili echoed the same sentiments adding that what shocked him during the meeting was that it came out that all these electoral processes being pushed by the Commission are based on Bill 10.
He said the Bill is still in Parliament and basing on it with regards to the delimitation process would defy logic, because it may fail to go through.
Meanwhile, the others who attended the meeting included, Republican President Edgar Lungu, PF Secretary General Davies Mwila, EEP President Chilufya Tayali, ULP President Sakwiba Sikota, and Rainbow Party President Wynter Kabimba.
Speaking before the meeting, ECZ Chairperson Esau Chulu said ECZ will hold several consultative meetings ahead of the 2021 tripartite polls.
Justice Chulu added that some issues would not be discussed as it would contemptuous because of those that have challenged some matters in the courts of law.
And ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Kryticious Nshindano said the already registered voters will be returned on the voters register provided they present themselves in person to registration centres to get their biometrics.
Nshindano said ECZ has visited countries that allow people in lawful custody to vote to benchmark best practices as Zambia considers inmates to vote adding ECZ will get back to stakeholders once consultations are concluded.