STATE HOUSE PLANNING ECZ CLEAN UP…before new Voters’ Register comes into effect

STATE HOUSE PLANNING ECZ CLEAN UP
…before new Voters’ Register comes into effect – sources.

By Mast Reporter

STATE House has started a purge of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in a bid to ‘weed’ senior officers ‘still’ aligned to the PF and gain control of the institution, sources have revealed.

According to government sources, the new dawn administration seeks to control the Voters’ Register just as their predecessors supposedly did, hence the purge.

“At policy level you have seen that the President has indicated that he will not renew contracts for the chairperson justice Esau Chulu and the vice Dr Emily Sikazwe. So far, two people have been lined up for those two positions. A prominent UPND lawyer, Madam…will take up justice Chulu’s position while Dr Sikazwe will be replaced by Mr McDonald Chipenzi from GEARS Initiative,” the source told The Mast. “Apparently, it appears that State House is not comfortable with most of the senior officers at the institution. So they want them cleared before the new Voters’ Register comes into effect. Unfortunately, for the new dawn they have a misconception that their colleagues, the PF, were influencing things at ECZ. So, they want to control things also based on that misconception; which is not true.”
When reached for comment, Chipenzi said he was not aware or approached for any appointment.
“I am hearing that from you. If I am approached I will be able to give a detailed comment,” said Chipenzi.
The source said State House is also making serious changes at operations level at the institution.

“They want to kick out the Chief Electoral Officer Mr Patrick Nshindano. For him, they feel that he is denying them contracts which UPND members and their allies have been looking for. So, they complained to State House, and this is the reaction that has come about. They think that Mr Nshindano is not being helpful.

They want to bring back a former director of elections as a replacement. They also want to bring back one gentleman in the IT department who was their link when they were in the opposition but was dismissed under the previous administration,” explained the source. “In fact, there are some senior officers who have been giving false information to State House about others. There is a serious witch hunt from some officers because people are jostling for favours from the new government.

All those who feel insecure want to be recognised as the only ones ready to work with the new government. But, you see, every civil servant is mandated to work with the government of the day. That is the general standard. So, it is shocking to see these levels of witch hunt.”
Presidential spokesperson Anthony Bwalya did not respond to The Mast press query over the matter.

But when asked if the government was carrying out a purge at ECZ, justice minister Mulambo Haimbe simply gave a very short response: “No it isn’t. Contracts expire. Its normal. Nothing sinister.”