Pilato Joins Court Action Challenging ECZ

Civil rights activist Chama Fumba, aka Pilato, has taken the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to court for wanting to reregister the whole country as voters. He is joined by Nawa Sitali, Muleta Kapatiso, Maiko Zulu and Brian Bwembya in taking action.

“Democratisation is a process that must be allowed to flow. The people of this country decided that we would pursue the path of democracy as a system of governance. We the people of this country have a duty to defend and ensure that the process of democratisation is not undermined or its flow disturbed by any individual or institution,” Chama Fumba explained on social media. 

“The conduct by the Electoral Commission of Zambia is one that has the potential to derail our progress in our pursuit for development through democratic means. As citizens of this beautiful country we will not allow ba Mr. Nyeleti to disturb the flow of democracy for whatever reasons. We will defend our democracy and the institutions that makes it flourish,” he continued.  

“To this effect, Mr. Nawa Sitali, Mr. Muleta Kapatiso,  Maiko Zulu, Brian Bwembya and myself have taken the issue of voter registration to the court. ECZ is quickly becoming an enemy institution of our democracy and the people of this country,” the musician stated. 

Fellow activist and Alliance for Community Action (ACA) Executive Director Laura Miti also weighed in on the ECZ's drive to re-register everyone stating, “It really makes no logical, logistical or democratic sense this move and they can’t seem to explain themselves convincingly.” 

Pilato last week challenged the ECZ on its claims that it could not afford to sponsor observers to witness the printing of ballot papers for 2021, as has previously been the case, when they are at the same time attempting to re-register the entire country within 30 days. 

“The six million plus voters were registered over a period of years…What makes you think that you will register every qualified Zambian within 30 days? ECZ should guard itself against becoming the enemy institution of our people. They must decide which side of history they want to fall. We have a duty to defend the integrity and dignity of our institutions especially those that define our democracy. We will stand up to ECZ and we will resist every attempt to undermine the power of the vote,” he was quoted as stating.

Pilato, Maiko, B-Flow and youths Nawa Sitali and Muleta Kapasito