Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has formally filed a petition in the Constitutional Court against the suspension of campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala Districts by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
The FDD has sued the ECZ as the first respondent and Attorney General Likando Kalaluka as the second respondent.
Antonio Mwanza
Party Spokesperson Antonio Mwanza says his party has opted to seek redress in this manner because it finds the decision by the ECZ to suspend the campaigns in the two Districts to be unlawful.
Mr. Mwanza has told Qfm News that the FDD has based its petition on the understanding that the ECZ does not have powers to stop campaigns for political parties.
He says party also finds the reasons the ECZ has given to suspend the campaigns to be unreasonable.
Mr. Mwanza states that the Electoral Process Act is very clear when it says the commission can only penalize political parties that are found to be engaging in violence.
He says it does not therefore follow that the suspension of campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala was extended to even innocent and non violent political parties such as the FDD.