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Simbao Wants ECZ Privatised
SENGA HILL MMD member of parliament Kapembwa Simbao has proposed that government privatises the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in order for the institution to gain public confidence in managing elections.
Contributing to debate on the Commission’s K56.9 billion budget which was later approved, Simbao said the institution had been under serious public criticism whenever it conducted national elections.
“Looking at that, I would suggest that maybe we privatise ECZ. Let it be in private hands so that everyone has its confidence and there is no bias in terms of appointments. We are coming to 2016, what we are discussing now might look small, but soon we shall have problems,” Simbao said.
“The Electoral Commission of Zambia is either loved or hated, depending on which side you are. As of last year, they had very big problems from our colleagues who were on this side (opposition).
And this year they have problems from us other than the other side. Maybe the PF government should have fired all ECZ officers upon forming government, so that they put their own people because it showed that they didn’t have confidence in the electoral process.”
He bemoaned the high number of election petitions that followed last year’s general election.
Simbao said it was a sign that the PF did not have confidence in the people managing ECZ.
And Simbao wondered why there was no budgetary allocation towards the Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT) system which many political parties used last year.
“I would like to look at the PVT but I’ve not seen any sign of it in the budget. It is important that if it really worked probably we should start making it official; we put it in the budget,” said Simbao.
But later in response, Vice-President Guy Scott said PVT was not a government arrangement.
“I’m walking here and you are walking on the other side, checking on me. So, PVT is not a budget issue; it’s for you to use for checking on government,” said Vice-President Scott.
Earlier, all lawmakers who debated questioned the government failure to allocate funding to the continuous voter registration exercise.
In response, deputy minister in the office of the Vice-President Harry Kalaba said if there would be need for such an allocation, government would come back to the House.
Posted by
Nortec student
November 9, 2012 at 2:42 pm
Hon.Simbao we need to ask ourselves “wat are some of the disadvangates of ECZ being in private hands?”
nshendi
November 9, 2012 at 3:39 pm
Let’s start by privatizing your thinking
shapwa shapwa
November 9, 2012 at 4:10 pm
Some MP’s are Fools
Privatise your balls
November 9, 2012 at 4:15 pm
iwe
BEN
November 9, 2012 at 4:23 pm
MMd was in power for 20 yrs and u enjoyed back then. why this thinking, is it because u ar on the other side.PF shuld have changed the work force unless ECZ delayed in anoucing the results but that wanst the case. so Mr mp why?. …………………. may be i should consider withdrawing the respect i have for U. Coz even a grade 1 can say A BIG NO to that.
Mosquito
November 9, 2012 at 4:24 pm
Ya Tata ya Simbao namwe you were in mmd for so long and you did not bring forth this idea and today what has come of you to think otherwise. I can support your idea but…..it has come at a wrong time when you are in opposition. SOrry try next time ok?
Red Brick
November 9, 2012 at 4:25 pm
How can ECZ be privatiased mwe bantu. Is he serious? What you should have suggested was for ECZ to report to some nuetral parliamentary committee or so.
Nicola
November 9, 2012 at 4:31 pm
Simbao another mental patient like dr phil.
goodcitizen
November 9, 2012 at 4:34 pm
ba MP… some people you vote?
jiga
November 9, 2012 at 4:58 pm
Lets start by privatising his children and see how it goes, maybe we will learn something from there.
MUNYELO PWETE!
November 9, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Yatata ya Simbao, it is extremely difficult for any reasonable person to make sense out of the rubbish you are vomiting. As a law maker, you should be alive to the fact that the government has interest in institutions that promote democracy such as ECZ! To make it more effective and work independently,Article 76 of our constitution provide for the autonomy of this institution but this autonomy is not in absolute terms. This means that the president has power to appoint key personel to this institution but these are subject to ratification by members of parliament! This principle equally applies to appointments of key members of the judiciary.
Interesting enough, as a check to these institutions, the president, under Article 44(5) of our constitution provides that any person appointed by the president may be removed by the president.
In this vein Simbao as a law maker should realise that what he is talking about is a constitutional issue and by virtual of him being an MP he should know the correct procedure of handling such issues instead of waffling like Hichilema who has never been a ward councilor! What a law maker!
Ntekwe
November 9, 2012 at 7:02 pm
Walanda ningo simwana! Limwi yalile chikanda iwole aliyo yati ivulunganya mano. How do you honestly privatize the ECZ? Give it more autonomy and fund it well and you wont have the issues we have had all along.
Dimentia
November 9, 2012 at 6:11 pm
It took a very Long day to see that it lacks public confidence. But why now? You controlled that institution like your kandemba; and its is you who employed those defects you want Sata to fire. Nonsense.
Umuntunse
November 9, 2012 at 6:41 pm
Mr Simbao sir, if u made this contribution two or three or four and more years ago, you would have been respected and taken veeery seriously. At this time, it only sounds like bla bla bla
NDIYO ZO PULAMA
November 9, 2012 at 7:00 pm
This Guy is Mad
Sido
November 9, 2012 at 8:41 pm
I think we start with his part which they have distroyed together with his Nephew RB, respectively
Kalok
November 9, 2012 at 10:20 pm
MMD is in self-destruct mode…
Abakonzi
November 10, 2012 at 1:06 am
Indeed its true that Ubushilu tabukonkonsha….Ati ba Honourable,judge for yourselves!
Chiwamila Galu
November 10, 2012 at 5:51 am
Hypocrite! Why didn’t he suggest this when MMD was the ruling party! Then he knows what they were doing with ECZ! Leave ECZ alone, it’s PF’s time now! Let them do whatever they want to do with them, just like when MMD was in power!
Lwali
November 10, 2012 at 8:42 am
I think Ba MMD nabatampa ukupena.Is it because of being in opposition which they never anticipated?
vet
November 10, 2012 at 12:14 pm
This is madness! please think. Find a better way to improve public confidence in ECZ (e.g let parly have more authority over ECZ). How can you privatize a national institution its like privatizing the country. We cannot put our votes in the hands of a private company. we should respect national sovereignty.
OS
November 10, 2012 at 12:39 pm
ARE MMD CHAPS BECOMING LUNATICS BY DAY THAT COMES? EVEN UNPD HAS TOO FOLLOWED SUIT. TODAY YOU BEGIN TO FORCE PF TO DO WHAT YOU FAILED OR NEVER CRUALLY AND GREEDLY WANTED TO DO ? THERE IS A LOT OF DIRT THAT MMD LEFT.UM DO U’NT 2 TEK 4 RIDE U FUZ!
j k
November 11, 2012 at 10:28 am
simbao is an ***** and has been the most useless minister of health since 1991
j k
November 11, 2012 at 10:28 am
simbao is an ***** and has been the most useless minister of health since 1991
Bemila-Defender of the gospel
November 12, 2012 at 11:42 am
MMD had never experienced Loss since forming a political party. Now that they have tested it-they are in a state of mismaladjusted