PRESS STATEMENT BY PATRIOTIC FRONT SECRETARY GENERAL HON DAVIES MWILA
17thJune 2020
RE: PROPOSED REVISED NOMINATION FEES BY ECZ TOO HIGH, AN AFFRONT TO CITIZEN PARTICIPATION IN ELECTORAL PROCESSES
Patriotic Front (PF) does not support the upward adjustment of nomination fees announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
As a militant organisation of revolutionary peasants, workers and intellectuals that believes in equitable participation in the affairs of our nation by all citizens regardless of socio-economic status, the Patriotic Front wishes to register its strongest displeasure with the proposed upward revision of nomination fees as recently announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The proposed upward revision is not only elitist, but it would also be tantamount to the commercialisation of participation in democratic processes where the destiny of the majority “have nots” is hijacked by a minority “haves”.
Patriotic Front remains committed to the participation and representation in democratic processes of youth, women and differently abled persons as a matter of right and not privilege. We support their proportional representation in Parliament as proposed under Bill 10, and we further call for lower nomination fees in order to maximize involvement of the youth, women and differently abled persons in running the affairs of the nation.
In order to safeguard our country’s democracy, we call for downward adjustment instead.
Zambia must not be put up for auction to the highest bidder.
SIGNED:
HON DAVIES MWILA
SECRETARY GENERAL
PATRIOTIC FRONT
PARTY HEADQUARTERS