SACCORD questions MMD's desire to petition Mufumbwe poll results

SACCORD questions MMD's desire to petition Mufumbwe poll results
By Kabanda Chulu
Tue 04 May 2010, 03:30 CAT

SACCORD information officer Obby Chibuluma yesterday said it is strange for the MMD to challenge the outcome of the Mufumbwe by-elections when clear evidence of electoral malpractices points to their campaign activities.

Commenting on the intention by the MMD to petition the outcome of the Mufumbwe by-elections, Chibuluma said it was disappointing to see President Banda and his ministers single out opposition parties as instigators of violence.

“We are disappointed in the manner the police conducted themselves in Mufumbwe and we are equally disappointed to see President Banda and his ministers condemning the opposition parties as troublemakers and we find it strange that MMD wants to challenge the outcome of the elections when clear evidence of malpractices points to the their activities,” Chibuluma said.

“Firstly, it is the MMD that took over polling stations as their campaign camps and the Electoral Commission of Zambia is aware about this issue, secondly, we find it strange that opposition party cadres are being arrested while the police claim that there is no evidence against MMD cadres.”

He challenged President Banda to show leadership qualities by strongly condemning the conduct of the police in Mufumbwe.

“Taking sides by saying opposition parties are trouble makers will not help resolve issues of violence since IG Francis Kabonde seemed to be a tourist in an area of conflict Mufumbwe and his presence was not felt by MMD cadres who were fighting in full view of the police command,” said Chibuluma.

“We would have loved to see MMD addressing the plight and should have been sympathetic to victims of violence but it seems President Banda and MMD are only interested in winning elections at whatever cost.”

The MMD are contemplating petitioning the election results in Mufumbwe claiming that opposition parties had instigated violence thus resulting in the failure by the ruling party to retain the seat left vacant by the death of former home affairs deputy minister Misheck Bonshe.