UPND Alliance Criticises Suspension Of Rallies By ECZ

The UPND Alliance has criticised the recent decision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to suspend all political events and rallies, calling the move “irrational, partisan and flawed”.

In a statement to the media, the opposition party has said that the ECZ does not have the authority to suspend political campaigning, only to set the dates when the campaign period begins and ends.

The UPND cites sections 28 and 29 of the Electoral Process Act, which stipulate that the ECZ has the authority to oversee the campaigning period, but “does not extend to cancellation of political campaigns in any form or part”.  

The party further accuses the ECZ of working “in cahoots” with the Patriotic Front government in order to feed their “insatiable appetite to hold on to power by hook and/or crook”.

It comes after the ECZ announced on Thursday that it would be suspending all political rallies ahead of elections on August 12, due to a rise in the number of new coronavirus cases. The Commission instead urged parties to use alternative campaigning tactics, such as online messaging. 

The move follows President Lungu’s announcement last week that parties should refrain from mass public events - a statement he made apparently without irony while addressing a huge crowd of PF supporters in Lusaka. 

Despite this the PF has continued to host large scale political events, with Communications Minister Dora Siliya hosting a rally for her supporters last weekend. 

The UPND, meanwhile, were blocked from kickstarting their own campaign in Kitwe last week and on Monday some members were even prevented from attending the funeral of their deceased compatriot at a cemetery in Ndola. 

UPND Alliance presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema has called the ban on campaigning “hypocritical” and called for a more level playing field to be offered to opposition parties.