Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has called upon the media fraternity to play a critical role and create an enabling platform for participating candidates and political parties in the upcoming by-elections slated for 20th January, 2022.
ECZ director electoral operations Royd katongo who is also the acting chief electoral officer says this comes in the wake of the suspension of campaigns and road shows by the ECZ working on collaboration with the ministry of health and the committee on elections and covid-19 in areas where the by-elections will be happening because they have been identified as super spreaders of the covid pandemic.
Speaking during a media indaba to deliberate on the media coverage of the kabwata by-election in Lusaka today, Mr. Katongo says the role of the media thus becomes very critical to the by-elections to disseminate information especially to the voters in kabwata and two wards on Senanga and Milenge so that they can make informed decisions on January 20, 2022.
He says ECZ wishes to continue collaborating with the media to ensure that stakeholders are kept updated on all the activities of the commission pertaining to the holding of the by-elections.
Mr. Katongo says the commission expects the media to uphold professionalism, ethical reporting and provide equal and fair coverage all participating political parties especially that the elections will be held under the fourth wave of the pandemic.
He says the media like other stakeholders should therefore adhere to the electoral code of conduct to ensure a credible electoral process.
And ECZ senior electoral officer Anna Nkaka has urged political parties participating in the by-elections to effectively manage their youths because they are vulnerable to being used a s tools of violence during electoral periods.
Mrs. Nkaka says political parties should also ensure that they adhere to the campaign timetable and programs which were jointly formulated by all stakeholders.