Maravi

Seal loopholes for rigging

Seal loopholes for rigging
By Editor
Friday October 10, 2008 [04:00]

The Electoral Commission of Zambia should take all possible measures and steps to ensure that the results of the October 30 presidential elections truly reflect the wishes and interests of the Zambian voters. The measures that the Commission has so far taken are positive and point in the right direction.

The decision by the Electoral Commission to provide checklists of all printed ballot papers to some civil society organisations and all the participating political parties will increase confidence in the results of this election. This will further allay concerns and fears of possible rigging and other malpractices. It will help build the necessary confidence in our electoral process and reduce the possibility of post-electoral conflict.

Democracies thrive on openness and accountability, with one very important exception: the act of voting itself. And the protection of the ballot box, the tallying of vote totals must be conducted as openly as possible, so that the voters and other citizens are confident that the results are accurate and that the government does, indeed, rest upon their consent.

As we have stated before, elections are a very important institution of our multi-party political dispensation. This is because the authority of those who assume the reigns of power should derive solely from the consent of the voters, of the citizens. And the principle mechanism for translating that consent into governmental authority is the holding of free and fair elections. And by free and fair elections, we mean elections where the results are accepted by all the candidates and their supporters because they truly reflect the way the voters voted.

And in saying this, we are mindful of the fact that in democratic elections, the struggle is not necessarily to determine which candidate commands the greatest public support, but who can most effectively motivate his supporters to convert their opinions into votes.

We also welcome the Electoral Commission’s decision to have the results pasted at the respective polling stations like the way it was done in Zimbabwe. As it was proved in Zimbabwe, this approach makes the cooking of figures more difficult. It ensures that the total votes are in line and can be easily reconciled with the final vote counts by the candidates or their representatives. This will enhance the credibility of the election and will make voters feel their votes count.

Elections are very important and everything possible should be done to ensure that they are held and conducted under acceptable standards of fairness. They are important because they provide a peaceful and fair method by which we can select our leaders and have a meaningful role in determining our own destiny.

And for this reason, the most important political right or privilege is the vote. Today, voting is a serious duty. Whether our country will have an upright and efficient president depends on our votes, on us the voters. In fact, it is said that the important thing about democracy is that we can remove, without bloodshed, the people who govern us.

Not organising elections in an effective, efficient and orderly manner diminishes this power of the people to remove from political office those they don’t want and to put into office those they desire, those they want.

And if people lose the power to sack those whom they have employed through the ballot box to govern them, frustration can creep in. This is inevitable when people feel they cannot get their way through the ballot box. Unless our people can be offered a peaceful change of leaders through the ballot box, through well-organised elections, there will be no continued peace and stability in our country.

For this reason, everything possible should be done by the Electoral Commission to ensure that our electoral processes are not prostituted to falsify the will and interests of our people. And we shouldn’t wait until trouble flares up before trying to put things in order.

We urge the Electoral Commission to try and make this election one of the best in the history of our country – an election without trickery, without fraud, without dirty politics and one that is most honest.

There is need to ensure that the best candidate wins and each candidate’s campaign should be his life, the record of his conduct and service to the country.

All our candidates should be pushed to be truthful, since truth is essential to individual dignity and progress and to authentic community among persons. We say this because the good of persons cannot be realised apart from the common good of the communities to which they belong.

We should all be conscious of the crucial role each one of us plays in choosing a president who will help create the Zambia we want to live in.

We need this election to be organised in a manner that will help us to effectively use our votes for the good of Zambia by making sure that the right person is elected.

To have peaceful, free and fair elections that will be accepted by all, certain conditions have to prevail in our country and in our hearts. There ought to be a conducive atmosphere. And this election must be held under conditions which are acceptable to all the participants and their supporters. And the contestants have to conduct themselves in a manner that does not put others at an unfair disadvantage. There ought to be total transparency in the organisation of this election.

In the light of these necessary conditions, we make a special appeal to the Electoral Commission, the government and to the ruling MMD to realise that they have a serious responsibility. As facilitators of the election, they should ensure that the concerns of all key players are adequately addressed before October 30.

We also make an appeal to the opposition political parties and their candidates about the need for them to be open and constructive in participating in the electoral process and in addressing concerns that are raised.

As we have stated before, this election that has been caused by the untimely death of president Levy Mwanawasa, will provide all Zambians with a unique opportunity to show their political maturity and their sincere aspiration for peace and harmony anchored in justice.

As for our fellow citizens, we again remind them that their right to vote bears positive fruits for the country when they choose a good leader for president. And on that day, we should choose a candidate who will serve the country with justice towards all; a person who will consider public interest rather than his own and who will be faithful to his election promises; a person of genuine integrity, moral courage in the cause of truth and justice.

Let’s weigh all the candidates in the balance of truth, justice and unselfish service, and, if we find them wanting, we shouldn’t vote for them.

Let’s use our vote as a powerful weapon for unity, an instrument of liberty, justice and peace. And as we have advised before, in casting our votes, we should never be swayed by personal profit but solely by consideration of which of the candidates is better for the nation.
Let’s not tolerate any electoral malpractices. Let’s seal all loopholes for rigging.

Labels: ECZ, ELECTIONS

posted by MrK @ 3:40 AM