TI-Z Warns Against ECZ Interference

Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has raised concern that the President’s recent directive to ban campaign rallies could be seen as interfering with the work of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), which is responsible for managing the electoral process. 

“As much as the President is Head of State, he must not lose sight of the fact that he is also a candidate in the 12th August election, and it is unacceptable for him to set the rules of a contest in which he himself is an interested participant,” the group’s Executive Director Maurice K. Nyambe stated. 

“We wish to urge the President that as we go towards 12th August, he should show us less of examples of his power but more of the power of his examples.  We urge him to lead by example in contributing to the creation of a level playing field, which will ultimately contribute to enhancing the integrity of our electoral process in general and of the 12th August elections in particular,” Nyambe continued. 

“We also wish to remind the Patriot Front, the ECZ and the Zambia Police Service that a level playing field is the foundation for a free and fair election, and that they must do everything in their power to create that level playing field,” he concluded. 

The ECZ has since banned rallies with immediate effect, citing concerns that a third wave of Covid 19 is hitting the country.