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Learn from Kenya's election experience, HH urges Zambians

Learn from Kenya's election experience, HH urges Zambians
By Mwila Chansa
Thursday January 03, 2008 [03:00]

Zambian should learn from Kenya’s election experience by ensuring they put in place an electoral Act that will pave way for the establishment of a truly independent electoral commission, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has advised. And Hichilema has observed that corruption and greed are the main reasons why African leaders cling on to power even though the majority of their people do not want them.

Commenting on the violence in Kenya that has been sprang by disputed poll results, Hichilema said the outcome of the elections in Kenya should be a wake up call for Zambians not to mishandle the constitution making process.

“For us it means the constitution making process should be handled without selfishness, it should result in the establishment of an electoral Act that will bring about a truly independent electoral commission,” Hichilema said.

“It is sad that so many lives have been lost and for us we think it did not have to go that way. What is happening in Kenya today could have happened in Zambia in 2001 and 2006 but it is just because Zambians are known to be cool people. But for how long will they remain cool?” Hichilema asked.

He said the violence in Kenya should also be a lesson for people entrusted to manage elections that they had a huge obligation because elections were capable of sparking trouble if not handled properly.

Hichilema also called for the introduction of common standards of setting up electoral commissions by the African Union (AU) to avert similar situations in future.

“What is happening in Kenya is very sad to Africa and Kenya in particular. It is a challenge to democracy and its tenets,” he said.

And Hichilema said it was sad that African leaders wanted to be presidents at all costs even when the majority of their people had rejected them.

“That is why we think some African leaders hold on to their positions because of self gain, excessive greed because if it is service they want to provide to their people, they cannot hold on if they (people) say no,” Hichilema said.

He added that corruption also made African leaders cling to power or hand pick stooges who would protect their wrong doing when they leave office.

Labels: ELECTIONS, HAKAINDE HICHILEMA, KENYA

posted by MrK @ 4:16 AM