ECZ Bans Campaigning For PF and UPND
The Electoral Commission of Zambia has announced a ban on all political campaigning in selected districts for the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development in response to continued acts of political violence.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka on Tuesday morning, Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano ordered an immediate halt to all campaign activities in Lusaka, Mpulungu, Nakonde and Namwala districts and has instructed the police to uphold the ban.
It followed a statement by the ECZ on Friday, which noted with concern the rising levels of political violence in the aforementioned districts. The commission identified the PF and UPND as the main perpetrators of this violence and threatened to suspend campaigning if parties did not adhere to the electoral code of conduct.
“The commission has … suspended with immediate effect all manner of political campaigns for the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development in Lusaka, Mpulungu, Namwala and Nakonde districts and this is due to escalating violence,” Mr Nshindano said this morning.
The chief electoral officer said he had informed the PF and UPND secretaries general of the commission’s decision and that this would be reviewed after 14 days.
Under the terms of the ban, neither the PF nor the UPND will be able to conduct any kind of campaign activities in the designated districts and media houses have been instructed to refrain from covering party affairs in these areas.
Additionally, the ECZ also announced a ban on campaign roadshows for all parties, including independent candidates. Mr Nshindano noted that these events were in breach of Covid-19 protocols and have effectively become “mobile rallies”.
He cited increasing numbers of Covid-19 infections as the rationale behind the ban, noting that hospitalisations for the disease are now spiralling and there are even reports of patients requiring treatment being turned away from hospital.
On Wednesday, Zambia recorded a further 1,388 cases, bringing the seven day average up to 1,767. Earlier this month, the ECZ placed a ban on campaign rallies in order to mitigate the spread of the virus.
Further restrictions announced today include a three person limit on the number of party campaigners who can take part in door-to-door canvasing, and a one vehicle limit on the use of mobile public announcement campaigns.
The suspension of all campaign activities for the two major parties comes after a period of intensifying political violence. On Saturday, Patriotic Front cadres were seen attacking a UPND roadshow in Mpulungu, where campaigning has now been suspended.
The UPND also reported an attack against five party members in Avondale, Lusaka over the weekend. The attack was instigated by PF militia leader Max Chongo and left UPND members with Panga and bullet wounds on their bodies.
UPND presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema has repeatedly called for an end to this political violence. Writing on Facebook this morning, he promised “an end to this alien behaviour of impunity and violence once we [the UPND] are given chance to serve, so that we all live in peace and unity.”