FODEP advises against implementation of cadre ferrying ban

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) says Police will be breaching the Republican Constitution by enforcing the ban Vice-President Inonge Wina has imposed on the influx of political party cadres from outside areas into constituencies where by-elections are conducted.

FODEP Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi notes in a statement that much as it is a fact that ferrying people to constituencies where by-elections take place has potential to ignite electoral violence and conflict in those areas, curtailing people’s freedom of movement is against the constitution of Zambia under Article 22 (a) which allows Zambians the right and freedom to freely move around Zambia.

MacDonald Chipenzi

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Mr Chipenzi says there is no law currently existing that stops Zambians from travelling to other parts of the country whether during elections, traditional ceremonies or indeed celebrations unless they are under detention or security reason as advised by security experts.

He states that FODEP therefore finds it extremely unfortunate to hear and difficult to understand Vice-President Inonge Wina’s directive to Police to check people travelling to areas of by-elections particularly the anticipated by-election in Kasama.

Mr Chipenzi says FODEP advises Zambians to reject and treat the directive with the contempt it deserves and defend their constitutional rights and freedoms.

He notes that the directive is devoid of any legal backing and is undemocratic, a clear breach of the constitution which the Vice President swore to protect and defend and can stir political and electoral violence if left unchallenged.

Mr Chipenzi recalls that the attempt to come up with a regulation on ferrying cadres to by-election areas by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in 2010 was violently rejected by political parties including the PF.

He says government and law enforcement agencies should simply find a way of engaging political parties to behave responsibly and promote interparty harmony in those areas or come up with a Bill to introduce such a law in Zambia.