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Government Cancels Ban On Political Rallies
The Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ- has cancelled a ban on political rallies imposed by outspoken Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Solomon Jere saying it not his mandate to do so.
On Sunday Dr. Jere announced the ban on political rallies in the fourth-coming parliamentary by-elections.
He attributed the ban to political violence.
Commission Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna has said in a statement that it is regrettable for Dr. Jere to confuse and mislead the public.
Mr. Akufuna clarifies that political party campaigns including rallies in Mpongwe and Livingstone constituencies will only end on February 26th, 2013 at zero six hours.
He says the Commission is not aware of any ban of political party campaigns as stated by Dr Jere.
He says it is a mandate of the ECZ to set up an election time table, including a campaign timetable which should be respected by all stakeholders without exception.
Mr. Akufuna says the commission regrets the confusion arising from the statement made by the deputy Inspector General of Police.
Earlier UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema vowed to defy Dr. Jere’s directive and go ahead with a public rally in Livingstone.
Their MMD counterparts also defied Dr. Jere’s ban held a public rally in Dambwa South area in Livingstone Constituency this afternoon as party deputy National secretary Chembe Nyangu disclosed.
Earlier Civil Societal Organizations urged the Zambia Police Service to act professionally and rescind the decision to ban the holding of campaign rallies in Livingstone and Mpongwe ahead of this Thursday’s by-elections.
The Civil Societal Organizations which included AVAP, FODEP, SACCORD, ZCID and the Zambia National Women’s Lobby contended that banning of campaign rallies ninety six hours ahead of the polls could be a recipe and fertile ground for unnecessary electoral petitions.
Speaking on behalf of the five organizations at joint press briefing in Lusaka this afternoon, ZNWL Executive Director Juliet Chibuta noted that the Police had overstepped its boundaries to contradict Regulation Seven of the Electoral Code of Conduct which empowers only the ECZ to censure acts of political parties during an election.
Posted by Admin
on February 25, 2013. Filed under LATEST NEWS.
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kakolwe
February 25, 2013 at 6:29 pm
Good move ecz, all wings of govt need to act proffessionally and avoid emotional outbursts. jere, kala hansi, and salve your deflated ego!
Frank facts
February 25, 2013 at 7:03 pm
Jere is a muzungu anikonde or muzungu wanga. he teargased Upnd…. killed baroste activists and always denies opposition rally permits. when pf goes, icc must act on jere
Tonga Bull
February 25, 2013 at 9:03 pm
good job ECZ, people like jere must learn their lesson.
Uwakwamununga
February 25, 2013 at 10:49 pm
Umulinganya usuma bane.CREATE AN ENABLING ENVIRONMENT FOR ALL STAKE HOLDERS.Then the competition will be incident free,then fairness will follow suit.
landlord
February 26, 2013 at 6:19 am
Jere should go to jere!
rebased kwacha
February 26, 2013 at 7:57 am
Wht is Jere’s profession tht did not teach him to consult? He cud even ve used crux law o 1 2 1 dadding by directly consulting frm other wings on wht he was 2 do thn ths embarassment. shame on him.
Tupac
February 26, 2013 at 9:28 am
Ecz re not part of govt,time should be written in numbaz not words and not crispin but chris.Jere’s was nice koz 1 person has bin killed in stone by UP aNd Down party and nkombo is in jail Haba Hichilibuncha has bin summonedby tha cops to help with the investigations.So the ban was ok.
CINENA NZUU
February 26, 2013 at 9:39 am
This must bring shame and disgrace to this overzealous young man, Solomomn Jere. At School ,Chizongwe, he looked humble and Christin like. Now corrupt ideas have crept into his mind hehaving like one with numb brains….he must be fired.
joe
February 26, 2013 at 9:42 am
Tupac niwe inda sana,Jere was wrong.Dull chap iwe!!
SABI
February 26, 2013 at 9:49 am
JERE TRYING TO SOURCE lIBONGANI’S JOB, mUNTU WAMULUNGU IWE, MUSELELA KWA KABA, DAYS ARE NUMBERED.
PF ADVISOR
February 26, 2013 at 11:57 am
Why stop these political parties which have no following or influence on the ZAMBIAN POPULATION from holding Rallies,why PF,we all know UPND and MMD are no longer a factor in our political arena,why daint your name over political parties that cant form a Govt,have no direction no leadership material except condemning everything evev something that is worth the credit,always criticizing without offering solutions.There is no Checks and Balances coming from these two failures.They will keep dreaming till they go into extinction.You have just dainted your name thats all.Whether given five years to do their campaign they cant form Govt or win elections not even in the next 50 years.So let them go ahead and campaign,after all they do is insulting who can support such nonsense.Viva SATA !Viva PF !