WITHDRAWALS IN LUMEZI, MANDEVU TARNISH DEMOCRACY — DU LEADER
Democratic Union President Ackim Antony Njobvu has charged that the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) must take responsibility for the wave of candidate withdrawals that have characterized Lumezi and Mandevu.
Reacting to the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s (ECZ) statement on the matter, Njobvu said the Commission is raising a valid concern but is directing it to the wrong audience.
“ECZ is raising an important point, but directing it to the wrong recipient. This message is for the UPND, you need to hear it, stomach it, and act on it,” he said.
Njobvu said the manner in which candidates withdrew from the two parliamentary races has dented Zambia’s democratic credentials, especially coming on the heels of a disputed poll that drew in military personnel.
“The candidate withdrawals in Lumezi and Mandevu have painted our democracy in a bad light, especially when we are coming from a disputed election that saw the involvement of military personnel,” Njobvu said.
The outspoken opposition leader cautioned that disregard for the law and established governance systems threatens the country’s development agenda.
“Without respect for the law and governance structures, the Grow Zambia project will fail,” he charged.
The ECZ has expressed concern over the trend of candidates withdrawing from by-elections after nomination, a move that has triggered public debate on political coercion and the integrity of the electoral process.
Francis Chipalo
There have been nominated candidates who resigned before elections apart from these recent resignations of nominated candidates for the Lumezi and Mandevu parliamentary seats. The current law doesnt allow ECZ to cancel the elections and to have new nominations and new elections. The law now stipulates that the remaining nominated and qualifying candidates will compete and if there is only 1 remaining nominated candidate, then he or she will be declared the winner of that electoral position. So what is un democratic about this law?? Why should the ECZ lay the blame on a party whose candidate didnot resign before elections?? The blame lies squarely on those political parties and their nominated candidates who resign before elections!!!