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The Electoral Commission Zambia (ECZ) has been called upon to revise the released election time table to bring forward the closing dates for filing of nominations for Presidential candidates from July 2 to June 15, 2016.
The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has also recommended that filing in of nomination for candidates to Parliamentary, mayoral and local government elections must be slated to the same June 15, 2016.
In a letter to ECZ obtained by QFM News, YALI President Andrew Ntewewe has accused the election body of drawing up an election timetable that is not in tune with provisions of the recently assented Constitution of Zambia Act No. 2 of 2016 which require nominations and all legal challenges against rejection or acceptance of nominations by ECZ to be completed at least 30 days before general election.
Mr. Ntewewe has refereed ECZ to Article 52 (5) of the Constitution which the filing in of nomination, litigation challenging the nomination, rejection of nomination or acceptance of nomination by candidates, hearing of election petition, concluding of petition regarding nominations to be completed at least thirty days before a general election which has been set for August 11, 2016.
In the same letter copied to the Attorney General, the YALI President has stated that the organization naturally expects government will take steps to ensure the legal framework to support these constitutional requirements are put in place, including the establishment of the Constitutional Court itself.
He has also implored ECZ to take into account the provided timelines for legal processes challenging rejection of nominations and concluding of such challenges by the courts when coming up with the revised timeline.
Meanwhile YALI Governance Advisor, Isaac Mwanza, has explained to QFM News in an interview that his organization will give the public the legal justification of their objections once ECZ responds.