Maravi

LETTERS - Elections

MMD’s comeback
Written by Concerned citizen
November 03, 2008 10:39:02 PM

Many of us who raised concerns to the Electoral Commission of Zambia

(ECZ) about the MMD's conduct prior to the elections are not surprised that they came from behind yet again to beat the PF. We know them; in 2001 they did the same to Anderson Mazoka, in 2006 to Sata and this time its the same thing again.

I now find it hard to trust the ECZ because there were many instances when the electoral code of conduct was breached without any action being taken.

For example, donations were made to would-be voters, public resources including vehicles from some government ministries were used in campaigns, voters were threatened and the ECZ never did anything. The presiding officer at Munali Constituency Geoffrey Malwita was found with marked ballot papers. There are many cases that require an explanation from the ECZ.

I think no political party has the right to force itself into office using corrupt means, threats from the police and army. Enough is enough, don't take the people for a ride.


Election observers
Written by Ferdmas, Lusaka
Monday, November 03, 2008 10:40:06 PM

It was suprising that before the announcement of results from all the constituencies and after receiving complaints from other political parties and many Zambians, the AU and COMESA went on to release their report prematurely.

In their preliminary reports, the African Union election observer mission and the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa COMESA said the election was held in a free and peaceful environment.

AU observer mission team leader, Anil Gaya, says the election took place in a peaceful atmosphere in which voters were able to cast their votes without intimidation.

I don’t know why these observers came to observe if they are blind to the many concerns raised by Zambians about the irregularities in the election. They never mentioned anything negative while we know that some people on the Copperbelt and Munali in Lusaka had ballot boxes with ballots marked in favour of a named party. Is this what amounts to the observers as free and fair?

The run-up to the elections, intimidation from the military and police, the absence of voters from the list and the failure to issue new voters cards questions the credibility of the elections.

Can the Electoral Commission of Zambia explain to the Zambians why they took so long to announce the results from selected constituencies, a similar pattern of what happened in 2006.


Lesson for opposition
Written by Kabanje Choombe, Chirundu
Monday, November 03, 2008 10:41:16 PM

Now that the results are out and the winner is known, our focus should be on 2011 and the losers must accept the results.

Our opposition political party leaders have themselves to blame and for me, it is good that they have lost the election. The lesson our leaders in the opposition should learn is that in future, they should put the interest of the people first and not their own selfish priorities.

Obviously, we can only elect one president at a time. The electorate had urged the two major opposition political parties to unite and field one candidate but they all wanted to be presidents. Countrymen and women, let us not blame the Electoral Commission of Zambia but our opposition leaders for being arrogant and not wanting to swallow their pride for the betterment of Zambia.


Rural vote
Written by Kaunda Wisdom
Monday, November 03, 2008 10:42:20 PM

It is unbearable and improper to have a president who is voted into office by uninformed voters in rural areas. It seems there is something wrong with our population statistics. How can we have more voters in rural areas than urban areas?

The decision of our rural voters is questionable and it makes me realise that though colonialists were condemed for having restrictions on who qualified to vote, it somehow makes sense rather than to have a leader whose victory is as a result of uninformed people’s decisions.

Besides, rural areas are hard-hit by poverty such that it makes one wonder why the ruling party still gains more votes in these areas.


Premature declaration
Written by Concerned citizen
Monday, November 03, 2008 10:43:44 PM

It is disappointing that the pattern of the release of election results has repeated itself. The suspicious pattern is that in constituencies where the ruling party was leading, there was low percentage of spoilt ballots with the highest voter turnout. This clearly shows something fishy about the recipe for the ‘victory’ of MMD!

It is also disappointing that the election monitors were declaring the election as being free and fair before the process was complete. When are elections declared free and fair? I guess, it should be after the whole process is complete! To the contrary, the process had not been complete when the declarations were made.

I am particularly disappointed with the declaration by the SADC Election Observer chairperson Dr John Kunene when there were a number of electoral malpractices that were reported in various areas including attempts to maliciously insert marked ballot papers in sealed ballot boxes, a scenario that was noticed in Munali Constituency. What about the threats prior to elections from the Inspector General of Police Ephraim Mateyo and the Army Commander Isaac Chisuzi? Wasn’t that intimidation of the opposition parties and their sympathisers? The incumbent President Rupiah Banda also did issue similar threats.

I would like to let the SADC chairperson to be mindful of the trouble they indirectly stirred in Zimbabwe due to their insensitivity over electoral malpractices.

Zimbabwe’s conduct of election should not be used as litmus paper for the Zambian elections performance. Elections in Zambia have not been free and fair!

It is well understood and accepted that Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda of the Heritage Party conceded defeat.

The total votes to HP’s General Miyanda were actually half of the total rejected ballots! In fact, he should have even conceded defeat before the election as he did not campaign.

I pray for continued peace in the nation even during these trying times. I also wish punishment to all those involved in the perceived malpractices.

We need not only peace in Zambia but also sincerity in the way we conduct national issues since this peace we are enjoying was not built by lies and lack of insensitivity.

Labels: COMESA, ELECTIONS, RURAL AREAS

posted by MrK @ 10:39 PM