ECZ asked to punish ‘violent political parties’

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) says the Electoral Commission of Zambia will be blamed for failing to take decisive action against violent political parties ahead of the August 11^th general elections.

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza says the ECZ earlier bemoaned the lack of powers to take action against such political parties but that they are now mandated to disqualify, call off or even suspend campaigns in accordance with the laws of Zambia.

Mr. Mwanza says the earlier caution to politicians of suspending the campaigns in view of the growing political violence in the country should be accompanied by tough action.

He says the ECZ has the teeth to byte and so they should be seen doing the correct thing if political violence is to end in the country.

Mr. Mwanza states that for as long as the ECZ is not implementing or evoking their powers in line with the Electoral process Act, it will be difficult for them to control the behavior of political party cadres during the campaigns.