Maravi

ECZ, police to handle electoral malpractices

ECZ, police to handle electoral malpractices
Written by Agness Changala
Monday, November 10, 2008 7:34:34 AM

LUSAKA police commanding officer Greenwell Ng’uni has said no one should worry about investigations of people who were allegedly found with election materials because ECZ and police were handling the matter.

But Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) director Danny Kalale has said no one was found with any election materials during the October 30 election.

In an interview yesterday, Ng’uni, who was asked how far the police had gone in investigating people who were allegedly found with election materials, said police cannot disclose how far investigations have gone until the case was concluded.

“We don’t operate like that, we are handling the case and we are operating in the public interest and therefore should not be your worry or anyone,” he said.

Nguni said even if the case was taken to court, people could not go to the judge to ask how the case was proceeding until it was concluded.

When reminded that people were interested to know what police will do to those who were allegedly found with election materials, Nguni advised people to remain calm and wait for police and the ECZ to conclude their investigations.

And Kalale said no one was found with any election materials and refused to comment further on the matter.

“You! No one was found with election materials and I can’t comment further on the matter,” he said.

Kalale, who was reminded of a driver of a GRZ vehicles who was found with ballot papers at the airport and Munali presiding officer Godfrey Malwita who was caught with pre-marked ballot papers after voting, referred all queries to Lusaka town clerk Timothy Hakuyu and ECZ public relations officer Chris Akufuna.

“On Malwita, call town clerk Timothy Hakuyu and he will give you the information you want and on the man at the airport, call ECZ public relations officer Mr Akufuna and that’s all I can say,” said Kalale.

When contacted, Akufuna said the airport case was being handled by police and he had not heard anything from them.

“On the case at the airport, police was handling it and they will be in a better position to say something,” said Akufuna.

Hakuyu could not be reached for comment as his mobile phone was switched off.

Labels: DANNY KALALE, ECZ, ELECTIONS, GREENWELL NG'UNI

posted by MrK @ 7:36 AM