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Electoral process can’t be left to Rupiah - Nawakwi

Electoral process can’t be left to Rupiah - Nawakwi
By Patson Chilemba
Wed 18 May 2011, 04:01 CAT

RUPIAH Banda cannot be allowed to control the electoral process as if he were the only participant in this year’s elections, says Edith Nawakwi. Nawakwi (right), who is FDD president, said President Banda did not have the monopoly of wisdom on the running of elections.

“No one is going to tell us how to conduct the next elections. And Rupiah Banda does not have the monopoly of wisdom in a matter where we all are stakeholders. He would even do better to listen. His constitution has just fallen through,” said Nawakwi in an interview.

She said Zambians, particularly the opposition political parties and civil society organisations, should ignore President Banda’s insistence that the government’s position on the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) was final.

She said opposition political parties, civil society organizations and churches should urgently make arrangements to conduct the PVT.

Nawakwi said all the stakeholders in support of the PVT needed to meet to look at the mechanisms of conducting the exercise.

“No one can tell you how to win. It is like what has been happening to us where people have thought that the Supreme Court can win you an election, therefore, after the election you petition the election.

It can never happen because the Supreme Court is part of the Executive in this country,” Nawakwi said. “We need to conduct an urgent meeting to secure our votes against being stolen.

You can’t beg your friend. Rupiah Banda is in the ring, we are all in the ring.”
Nawakwi said common sense should prevail on the PVT because one did not need to be accredited by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to conduct the exercise.

Nawakwi said PVT was non-negotiable as it would be critical to averting a crisis after the elections.

“PVT is a killer punch for MMD. And they are telling you ‘don’t punch’, and you seem to be agreeing. It is not possible for MMD to win, and that is why they are being difficult,” she said.

Nawakwi said President Banda was campaigning daily on national television and wearing party regalia wherever he went.

“So stop talking to him as head of state. He is our opponent; let’s take him on with our bare hands. He has failed to give us a constitution, what else can he tell us?” said Nawakwi.

In March, The Zambia (Amendment) Constitutional Bill 2010 failed to go through in Parliament after the MMD failed to garner the required two-thirds majority.

Labels: ECZ, EDITH NAWAKWI, RUPIAH BANDA, VOTERIGGING

posted by MrK @ 3:45 PM