ECZ purge gets with mixed reactions from stakeholders

Opposition Golden party of Zambia president Jackson Silavwe has charged that the non-renewal of contracts for Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson justice Esau Chulu and his vice Emily Sikazwe by president Hakainde Hichilema was expected.

Mr. Silavwe says this is owing to the seemingly toxic relationship between the elections house and the UPND leadership.

He says the UPND especially while in opposition had constantly accused ECZ officials of working against them while the commission had equally accused the UPND of not being sincere.

Mr. Silavwe expects the purge of officials at the commission to continue at the commission.

He has since called for the total independence of state institutions of good governance such as the ECZ to insulate them from the influence of the executive arm of government.

Mr. Silavwe has further reiterated his call for the ECZ act and the electoral process act to be amended.

But gears initiative executive director McDonald Chipenzi says there is nothing sinister about president Hichilema’s decision not to renew the contracts for justice Chulu and Dr. Sikazwe.