UPND Sues ECZ For Banning Campaign Rallies

The United Party for National Development has sued the Electoral Commission of Zambia over its decision to ban campaign rallies in advance of general elections on August 12th. 

According to an affidavit filed at Ndola High Court on Tuesday, the opposition party argues that the ban is irrational and illegal and is therefore seeking a judicial review into the matter.

It follows a decision by the ECZ last Thursday to ban all campaign rallies in light of rising case numbers of Covid-19. The Commission instead urged parties to use alternative campaigning tactics, such as online advertising. 

The move came shortly after an announcement by President Lungu that parties should refrain from holding mass events. He issued the statement, apparently without irony, while addressing a huge crowd of PF supporters in Lusaka. 

Despite this, not everyone in Lungu’s party seems to have gotten the message, with Communications Minister Dora Siliya spotted hosting her own rally for supporters the following week.

The UPND has openly criticised both President Lungu and the ECZ’s decision, calling it “irrational, partisan and flawed”. 

The party is now seeking judicial intervention, arguing that the ECZ does not have the authority to stipulate how campaign events are orchestrated. Instead, UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda argues that the guidelines on campaigning implemented by the Ministry of Health are more than sufficient to contain further outbreaks of Covid-19. 

Mr Imenda is therefore seeking a ruling that the ECZ’s decision is “capricious and without the authority of law.”

The ECZ’s ban has also been criticised by civil society organisations, who argue that it offers President Lungu an unfair advantage in the upcoming elections.

Transparency International Zambia have stipulated that it is “unacceptable” for President Lungu to set the rules of a contest “in which he himself is an interested participant”. 

The group has therefore felt it necessary to remind the ECZ 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.”