ruling mmd in Zambia called to show political will in enacting the electoral code of conduct

PARLIAMENTARY COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENDER MATTERS CHAIRPERSON JACK MWIIMBU HAS CALLED FOR THE POLITICAL WILL FROM THE RULING MMD GOVERNMENT IN ENACTING ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT IN THIS YEAR’S TRIPARTITE ELECTIONS.

SUBMITTING THE REPORT TO PARLIAMENT TODAY MR. MWIIMBU EXPLAINED THAT THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT IN ITS CURRENT STATUS DOES NOT INSPIRE A NUMBER OF ELECTORAL PLAYERS WHOM HE SAID FEAR THAT IT MAY NOT BE UPHELD.

MR MWIIBU WHO IS ALSO MONZE MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT ALSO BEMOANED THE TENDENCY BY GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS TO USE PUBLIC RESOURCES IN THIS PRE-ELECTION PERIOD.

HE SAID THERE IS NEED TO UPHOLD THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT BY ALL STAKEHOLDERS IN THIS YEAR’S ELECTIONS AND FURTHER CALLED FOR THE CIVIL SERVANTS TO BE NON PARTISAN IF PEACE IS TO PREVAIL IN THE COUNTRY.

AND SECONDING THE MOTION LUMBANSESHI MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT LAZAROUS CHOTA SAID THE ELECTORAL COMMISSION OF ZAMBIA DOES NOT HAVE THE CAPACITY AND EXPERTISE TO ENFORCE THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT.

MR CHOTA CITED THE INADEQUATE PIECES OF LEGISLATURE TO ALLOW THE ECZ AND THE LAW ENFORCING AGENCIES TO ENSURE THAT THE ELECTORAL CODE OF CONDUCT IS ENACTED.

AND CONTRIBUTING TO THE DEBATE ROAN MEMBER OF PARLIAMENT MR. CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI CALLED ON GOVERNMENT TO CLEAN UP THE PRISONS SO THAT THEY ARE IN GOOD CONDITION UNLIKE THE CURRENT STATUS.

AND OTHER PARLIAMENT WHO SUPPORTED THE REPORT CALLED FOR PEACE DURING AND AFTER THE ELECTIONS AND ENSURED THAT THE DESPERATION THAT IS BEEN PERPETUATED BY SOME QUARTERS IS AVOIDED.

MEANWHILE, PARLIAMENT HAS SINCE ADOPTED THE REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON LEGAL AFFAIRS, GOVERNANCE, HUMAN RIGHTS AND GENDER MATTERS FOR THE FIFTH SESSION OF THE TENTH NATIONAL ASSEMBLY.

AND INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING DEPUTY MINISTER ANGELA CIFIRE HAS TOLD PARLIAMENT THAT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL IF NOT PROPERLY HANDLED POSES A GREAT DANGER TO THE COUNTRY’S PEACE AND SECURITY.

MS CIFIRE FURTHER TOLD THE HOUSE THAT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL WILL ONLY BE PRESENTED TO PARLIAMENT ONCE THE CONSULTATIONS WHICH ARE BEEN UNDERTAKEN FROM VARIOUS STAKEHOLDERS ARE COMPLETE.

BUT LIEUTENANT GENERAL RONNIE SHIKAPWASHA WHO IS ALSO CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON EXPRESSED DOUBT THAT THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION BILL WILL BE ENACTED BEFORE PARLIAMENT IS DISSOLVED

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