Maravi

LETTERS - Elections II

ECZ must be independent
Written by Sichone SK,Kabwe
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:18:05 PM

The manner in which the just-ended elections were conducted makes me a sad man.
I wish to strongly recommend to members of parliament that regardless of which political party they belong to, they need to ensure that they enact laws that make ECZ completely detached from government manipulation.

I fear that in its current position, the ECZ is a recipe for anarchy. As a citizen, going by what has happened, l felt justified to defend my country against crooks, thieves and manipulators who have openly confessed who they are.

But I give it one last chance. I’m sure there can be a better way of finding a lasting solution to this. I personally don’t fancy the ECZ director’s arrogance, I think he does not represent Zambians as a public office bearer.

To the opposition, I say time is now to unite. Bury your differences and work for the common good. There is no one solution for Zambia. You need to work together.


Selfish opposition
Written by John Kane
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:21:47 PM

Allow me to express my views on the just-ended presidential election. Yet again, the change that people wanted has been denied due to splitting of votes among the opposition.

Prior to the elections,we advised two major political parties to merge as the only way to remove the incumbent government from power. However, due to selfish motives, they thought they were popular and did not heed our advice.

Consequently, Zambians who wanted change have been disappointed and have found voting as a waste of time and energy. It is, therefore, of great importance that PF and UPND start considering merging to restore confidence in the Zambian electorate or there will be voter apathy in 2011.



Polls: acting on observations
Written by Concerned citizen
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:19:54 PM

The collapse and total erosion of our hard-earned democracy is imminent.
Unless the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) strongly addresses the observations made by the losing candidates in the just-ended presidential polls, we risk condemning this nation to a level where elections will lose their relevance in as far as governance is concerned.

The mood on the ground is that of absolute despair. For instance, most of our young men and women on whom the future of this country hinges are indicating that they see no reason in continuing to participate in future elections.

If this is allowed to take root, we should not be surprised to see massive apathy during the 2011 polls. In no time at all, Zambia will find itself being ruled by a president chosen by less than 10 per cent of the eligible voters.

If this is the democracy that we advocated in 1991, then we have clearly failed our nation and the one party dictatorship comes out tops.

Only God knows what happened during the presidential polls last week but in the light of all the dissenting views, action needs to be taken to restore confidence.

It is only when this is done that our democracy can be salvaged, otherwise we have lost the footing. The manner in which the ECZ is going to handle the observations made by the losing candidates and some independent observers shall make or break the democratic path Zambia took in 1991.

Please ECZ, all Zambians are looking to you with a lot of hope and faith that you will make a difference and allow our democracy to thrive, so don’t let us down.


2008 election
Written by Ronald
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:22:43 PM

I feel the just-ended presidential election wasn't free and fair because there were a number of malpractices reported in various areas, including attempts to insert marked ballot papers in sealed ballot boxes.

Lastly, I should say, may God punish the riggers with perpetual suffering.


2011 elections
Written by Concerned citizen
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:23:21 PM

I feel the electoral commission should avail us with information about how many people are registered

as voters in each constituency and how many polling stations are in such constituencies at least 3 months before voting in 2011.

They should be bold to publish such information in our daily papers. This will add to transparency. ECZ should stop printing ballot papers in South Africa.

ECZ should also stop telling us that trucks break down in North Western and Western provinces because these trucks don’t break down. In 2011, they should use Rupiah’s chopper to transport ballot papers so that we do not get any excuses.


Unpopular president
Written by Gilbert Wandi
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:24:16 PM

Why should a country of over 12 million people have a president elected
just by 718,359 voters? Can we honestly call him a popularly elected president?

I think there is a lot of work which the Electoral Commission of Zambia is supposed to do in voter education and registration. Why should a country of 12 million have a voter register of only 3 million people as if you are just covering a town like Lusaka?

The Electoral Commission of Zambia needs to register more people than what they have now.

And for those in rural areas, as long as they continue voting in exchange of sugar, salt and a bag of mealie-meal, they should forget about seeing real development taken to their areas. They will continue being tormented by poverty that is there now.

The voting pattern from our brothers and sisters in rural areas is really disappointing, disastrous and they vote as if they live better lives than the people in town.

To the MMD government, you have won the elections but don’t over celebrate because you have a lot of work to do. One question MMD leaders should ask themselves is why should you always be rejected by the people in towns who are like the engine power of our country?

This is not the first time it is happening and it’s time you found out why you always lose in towns. You get good votes from our brothers and sisters from rural areas as you say, but you give them nothing in return. They continue living in abject poverty. I wonder what motivates rural people to vote the way they do and what makes MMD popular in such areas. To Rupiah Banda as the President now, try to work and find out why people in town always reject your party, MMD.


http://www.postzambia.com/content/view/996/64/

Rupiah, load shedding
Written by Webby Mwila, Kitwe
Wednesday, November 05, 2008 6:25:04 PM

We all recall that during the campaigns,President Rupiah Banda did promise that he will ensure that loadshedding is a thing of the past by next year if voted in office.

But I was shocked to hear the same man in his inaugural speech shifting from next year to barely laying down a plan which will take us as far as 2016 and yet inviting inverstors. Come on Rupiah, these people will need power before they can think of spending. It’s not all about winning the vote, Zambians are watching and want action now. You are just nailing your party for 2011.

Zambians are watching every move of those once rejected but ‘influential’ job seekers around you.

Labels: CORRUPTION, ECZ, ELECTIONS, LOAD SHEDDING, OPPOSITION, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 5:59 PM