Maravi

Rupiah’s Govt wants justice Mumba out of ECZ

Rupiah’s Govt wants justice Mumba out of ECZ
By George Chellah
Thu 27 Jan. 2011, 04:02 CAT

PRESIDENT Rupiah Banda’s government is plotting to remove justice Florence Mumba as Electoral Commission of Zambia chairperson ahead of the forthcoming general elections.

Well-placed government sources yesterday revealed that the government intends to reshuffle the commission with a view to getting rid of justice Mumba.

“The current happenings at ECZ vis-à-vis Dan Kalale’s dismissed ECZ director press briefing is more than what meets the eye,” the sources said. “Even these screaming headlines you are seeing in the government newspapers and television, they are not from without. It’s all part of the scheme.”

The sources disclosed that very senior government officials are driving the ploy.

“State House is deeply involved too. When did the government media give such kind of publicity to a dismissed civil servant like they are doing to Kalale? This is a well-orchestrated move by the government to mount pressure on justice Mumba,” the sources said. “There is a serious ploy to have justice Mumba out of ECZ. In fact, the scheme is to ensure that justice Mumba is removed and Kalale is reinstated either directly or indirectly at the commission. One way or another, Kalale has to be there at the commission.”

The sources said the government, and the MMD in particular, were not comfortable with having justice Mumba at the helm of the forthcoming elections.

“Justice Mumba has become so unpopular within the establishment such that they have just been waiting for an opportunity to strike. And now seems to be that time they have been waiting for to fix her. The MMD is not comfortable with the manner the commission conducted the voter registration exercise countrywide,” the sources said. “There is serious resentment of the judge within the establishment and the general feeling is that the voter registration exercise seems to have come out in favour of the opposition. There are claims that going by the figures, it’s clear that the commission centered so much in opposition strongholds, which is ridiculous.”

The sources said justice Mumba is perceived as a person that was difficult to manipulate.

“They feel that the equitable manner in which resources and efforts towards the exercise where applied by the commission disadvantaged the ruling party. And that even manoeuvres by the MMD to try and influence the commission to tilt the exercise by concentrating on rural areas don’t seem to be working,” the sources said. “Generally, the ruling party is frustrated with justice Mumba because she seems to be a hard nut to crack, where principle and transparency is concerned. It’s like she is her own person and she wants to be as impartial as possible with regards to this year’s elections. In short, they are scared that the country will be going for elections without Kalale and the very fact that justice Mumba who is independent minded will be in charge is what has worried them to the core.”

The sources dismissed Kalale’s claims.

“Actually, there are a lot of financial irregularities that have gone unchecked at ECZ hence the need for an independent audit to be conducted. This whole saga is a political ploy. The truth is the government wants a person they can manipulate to be in-charge of the commission.”

Labels: ECZ, FLORENCE MUMBA, RUPIAH BANDA

posted by MrK @ 4:59 AM