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Ensure ex-presidents don’t participate in politics, SACCORD challenges ECZ

Ensure ex-presidents don’t participate in politics, SACCORD challenges ECZ
By Florence Bupe
Sat 06 Feb. 2010, 04:01 CAT

THE Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia to institute a code aimed at ensuring that former presidents do not participate in active politics.

Making a submission to the parliamentary committee on legal affairs, governance, human rights on Thursday, SACCORD programmes manager Boniface Cheembe said ECZ had not been carrying out this task.

“The ECZ has not done enough to minimise the participation of former presidents in active politics. For example, the involvement of former president Frederick Chiluba in the Kasama Central by-election was something that the public took note of,” he said.

SACCORD was asked to make a submission on the Zambian electoral process and institutions.

Cheembe said SACCORD desired former heads of state to be impartial in their approach to national politics.

“SACCORD is of the view that impartiality should be maintained when it comes to the involvement of former presidents in active politics,” he said.

Cheembe said it was vital for electoral processes and institutions to be strengthened if the country’s democracy is to be enhanced.

“It is important that institutions that support the electoral process are strengthened and are given enough resources to undertake their mandate,” he said.

Cheembe said ECZ was faced with a number of challenges in handling the country’s electoral system, and called for necessary measures to be taken in addressing these challenges.

“The ECZ tends to suffer from lack of preparedness for the election process. The institution also seemingly does not have the muscle to enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct which governs the conduct of all stakeholders in an election,” he said.

Cheembe said ECZ was not reactive to violation of the Electoral Code of Conduct because of the weak regulatory framework.

He said there was need to undertake capacity building to make the commission more effective.

Labels: BONIFACE CHEEMBE, ECZ, PRESIDENCY, SACCORD

posted by MrK @ 3:44 PM