Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
FODEP Acting Executive Director Mweenge Chimfwembe
The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has welcomed the suspension of political campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala districts as a result of unprecedented levels of violence and intolerance among political players.
FODEP acting Executive Director Chimfwembe Mwenge says the action by the Electoral Commission of Zambia has been long overdue because of continued violence and other forms of behavior that violate the electoral code of conduct and other electoral authorities that govern the entire electoral process.
Mr Mwenge says it is FODEP’s hope that the suspension will help restore order,peace and unity in the campaigns following the violence being perpetrated by some political parties.
He has however, urged the ECZ to summon violent political parties and punish them individually unlike the current situation where campaigns are suspended for all parties including those not involved in violence.
Mr Mwenge says FODEP further calls for quick finalization of the Statutory Instrument on the disqualification of political parties or candidates that are abrogating the electoral laws from participating in elections.
Meanwhile, FODEP has condemned in the strongest terms, the shooting of UPND members on 8th July,2016 in which a female member Mapenzi Chibulo was killed and several other injured.
Mr Mwenge says the action by the Police amounted to excessive force,which was unnecessary.
He says FODEP calls upon the investigative wings of the government and institutions of democracy such as the Human Rights Commission to immediately and speedily institute a probe into the shooting incident as it is a gross violation of human rights.