Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) has demanded for transparency and accountability in the ongoing campaigns for the 2015 Presidential election.
The ZCSD is asking all political parties taking part in the election to disclose the sources of the funds they are using for their campaigns.
In a statement to Qfm News, Executive Director Lewis Mwape has observed that this practice is common in advanced economies.
Mr. Mwape notes that his organization is however aware that sources of campaign funds usually dictate trade policies in cases where political parties are funded from foreign sources.
He states that it is also a receipt for corruption in government where business men and women support political parties in anticipation of rewards once a party they have supported forms government.
The ZCSD Executive Director says it is for this reason that his organization is demanding that all political parties participating in the forthcoming presidential election tell the Zambian people where their campaign funds and materials are coming from.
He says political parties should be wary that Zambia is not for auction to rich individuals or nations.
And Mr. Mwape has also stressed the need for the ruling Patriotic Front Presidential candidate Edgar Lungu to immediately resign from his government positions of Justice and Defense Minister in order that concentrate on his political campaigns.
He has suggested that holding on to the two ministerial positions and thereby drawing Tax Payers money as a Minister in form of salaries and allowances will be tantamount to abuse of public resource.
Mr. Mwape says this is because in his capacity as PF Presidential Candidate Mr. Lungu may not have the time to attend to Ministerial duties for which he can use to justify his earning salaries and allowance from national treasury.
He says ZCSD strongly believes that Mr. Lungu’s stepping down from the two Ministerial positions will be a clear demonstration of integrity and accountability on his part as a leader who the Zambians can trust as a true servant of the people and a leader who would be trusted to sacrifice and protect national resources.