Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Voting is underway in Sesheke constituency and in 7 other local government wards.
Four political parties, which are the ruling PF, UPND, the People’s Alliance for Change (PAC) and United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) are taking part in the Sesheke Parliamentary by-election.
The ruling PF has Dean Masule as its candidate while UPND fielded Romeo Kang’ombe.
Other contestants are Lifuti Muhau on the PAC ticket and Victor Kalimukwa of the UPPZ.
And the 7 local government by-elections are taking place in Anoya Zulu Ward of Chililabombwe District, Munyama Ward of Kabwe District and Mkomba Ward of Lundazi District.
Other areas are Chindwale Ward of Katete District, Chinkutila Ward of Chifunabuli District, Nkombwa Ward of Isoka District and Sewe Mungole Ward of Chavuma District.
Meanwhile the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has been commended for refusing to succumb to pressure to postponed the February 12, by-elections.
Governance, Elections, Advocacy and Research Services (GEARS) Initiative Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi says suspending the by-elections would have been costly all electoral stakeholders.
Mr. Chipenzi says his organization is also of the view that there was no guarantee that resetting of another date for the by-elections would have produced peaceful and orderly campaigns.
In a statement to Q-News Mr. Chipenzi says GEARS Initiative however bemoans the political and electoral violence witnessed in some wards and in Sesheke constituency.
Mr. Chipenzi says his organization which has been monitoring the just ended campaigns, also observed that there was non-adherence to the electoral code of Conduct by major political parties.
He says GEARS Initiative further observed that the ECZ failed to invoke its powers entrusted on it by the law resulting to glaring dereliction of statutory duties, functions and roles by the Zambia Police.
Mr. Chipenzi says his organization equally observed abuse of social media which became a tool of propaganda and falsehood during the just ended campaigns.
He adds that this is besides non adherence to an agreed upon campaign timetables, among other observations.