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Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu Calls For ‘New Blood’ At ECZ
Home Affairs Minister Edgar Lungu has questioned the circumstances that led to the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s decision to halt the filing of nominations for Malambo and Petauke Central by-elections, saying the move reeks of bad faith.
“Some years back, Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Darius Mumba was stopped from filing his nomination papers on account of alleged corruption,” Mr Lungu, who is also PF chairperson for legal affairs, said in Petauke yesterday.“When this happened, the ECZ went ahead with the filing process and did not halt or postpone the process…today, however, under similar circumstances, the ECZ has decided to side with the opposition again. To me, this is a clear demonstration of bias.”
Mr Lungu said: “As a result of this open bias, we have no choice but to call for new blood at the ECZ. We strongly feel some people have overstayed and lost touch with reality and must pave way for new blood.”
The minister said the ECZ needed “no further consultation after the Judiciary passed the landmark decision to bar corrupt candidates but here they are stuck in the moment again…it’s time for radical change”.
And Vice-President Guy Scott says he is disappointed at the postponement of the nominations for the three by-elections.
“The Patriotic Front was ready for the nominations. We came with the zeal to win all the seats and we are sad that our candidates cannot file nominations…. but we will be back,” Dr Scott said.
The Vice-President was speaking at Jumbe Primary School in Malambo constituency when he received 50 defectors from the MMD and UPND.
Dr Scott urged the defectors not to be discouraged by the postponement of the filing of nominations.
“You are welcome to the pro-poor party that is focused on development. Let’s progress and work together to ensure that Malambo constituency develops,” he said.
UPND vice-president Canisius Banda also complained about the postponement.
“We have spent a lot of money to prepare for this event and we are totally unhappy with what has happened,” he said.
Meanwhile the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has won praise for deferring nominations in three of the four parliamentary by-elections scheduled for September 5th.
The by-elections whose nominations were supposed to take place yesterday but have been deferred to 13th August, following a statement from the Judiciary, are Petauke Central, Malambo and Mulobezi.
Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) says the postponement of the filing of nominations for the three by-elections will enable the ECZ allow only candidates eligible to take part in the polls.
SACCORD Executive Director Boniface Chembe has also suggested that the ECZ should have also postponed the nominations for the Mkaika by-election in order to sustain a level playing field for political parties taking part in the four by-elections.
Mr. Chembe has also reiterated the need for the ECZ to call for a national dialogue meeting for all political parties to discuss in detail the Electoral law in order to ascertain any areas that maybe in conflict to holding free and fair elections in the country.
The SACCORD Executive Director was speaking in an interview with Qfm.
[QFM,Daily Mail]
Posted by
AnimalFarm
August 10, 2013 at 1:38 pm
Animal farm
bodybuilder
August 10, 2013 at 2:46 pm
This is an awful decision by the Minister
Ben10
August 10, 2013 at 5:15 pm
A lungu koma mulibe nzelu mwewo,wat abt president sata akacili kalumendo kwawewo? Stiopeti
Umungulu
August 10, 2013 at 7:11 pm
All the above commenters are nitwits. They know nothing about the electoral process. They had better be quiet.
A PIECE OF ADVICE
August 11, 2013 at 7:18 am
Umungulu, Do not insult fellow bloggers. Educate them so that we move forward. You do not have the right to insult people you do not know. They are neither your friends nor relatives.
pope
August 12, 2013 at 12:53 pm
who do you think you are
bashi chimbusa
August 10, 2013 at 7:11 pm
viva ECZ!co a spade,a spade.continue being straight;we can never have corrupt people in office while we have credible people from cbu,unza,nortec,nipa,evalyne etc.shame on u pf,mmd and upnd.ba sata bombesheni.
Winter June Kabimba
August 10, 2013 at 9:35 pm
What work do you expect from Sata with a cohort of imbeciles like Edgar Lungu and Winter Kabimba? These guys are really useless to say the least, that it is hard to differentiate any statement uttered by Edgar or Winter. Winter appears as though he owns Zambians no wonder he performed badly hands down during the interview with Mike Mulongoti.
Mwanawachisi
August 10, 2013 at 10:43 pm
Kekekekeke @ calling for new blood at ECZ.Lungu and Kabimba can advocate for that so that only puppets are employed at ECZ who dance to the tune of the ruling party shame.
Pumbwe
August 11, 2013 at 11:02 am
I keep wondering if bloggers on Tumfweko were actual parliamentarians! It would be a crop of Middle Fingerers and plunderers. Only a few would be noble! Going by the comments and insults…..just wondering
FIFA REFREE
August 11, 2013 at 11:42 am
Ba neni
Why are you insulting ECZ, Lungu AND everyone else?
Please help. There is one question that still begs for answers!
ECZ are NOT new in this job…
Tell us…before we can decide whether ECZ are partial or not…
How have they handled similar issues in the past?
peto
August 11, 2013 at 4:08 pm
how about grogan for zambeef are you going to cage him？
MAFUPA YOKOYOKO
August 11, 2013 at 6:16 pm
Kwena chi lungu, a whole minister ema rubbish wingalanda aya? Ba Sata pliz kick these hopeless n careless ministers out, they are spoiling da party image…
transperency intergrity
August 12, 2013 at 7:45 am
but hw many rulling candidates hav pending issues evn in court and are still occupying parliamentally seats and are not bothered for you people to bring this law 2day?
She - Knows
August 12, 2013 at 10:39 am
The ECZ is trying to make election open to fairness. The postponement will allow for parties whoes candidates have been barred to file in nominations for the new candidates. It is good and wise move. The minister is out of line.
pope
August 12, 2013 at 12:55 pm
what about your blood? is it new?
She - Knows
August 12, 2013 at 2:17 pm
Mwipusheni bakamba. These are the same people who are turnishing govts name and turning the porpulation against the ruling party. I think Micheal pay particular attention to his vocal ministers such as Winter so that he can quickly disciplin them when they go wrong like in this case. He should not attack EZC because they a wize move to postpone the nominations to chance to the agrieved parties.