Govt asked to repeal law that prescribes campaign period

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has called on government to repeal the law which restricts politicians to conduct political campaigns a few weeks before an election.

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza notes that the law has largely been abused to stop opposition parties from campaigning, while allowing political parties in power to reach out to the people.

He says in a competitive multiparty democracy like Zambia, restricting campaign periods to a few weeks or months before an election with preconditions is retrogressive to the growth of democracy.

Mr. Mwanza tells QFM News that politicians cannot be restricted in putting across their message to prescribed periods as the business of convincing people is long term which cannot be restricted to the prescription of a civil servant running a public office.

He says it is senseless to have politicians having to seek permission to do their job, which is selling their party and their manifestoes.