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Mususu urges cops to enforce Electoral Code

Mususu urges cops to enforce Electoral Code
By Moses Kuwema
Fri 20 May 2011, 04:01 CAT

THE police should try by all means to enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct during this year’s elections, even though it is a loose one, says Bishop Paul Mususu.

In an interview, Bishop Mususu, who is former Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia executive director, said the issue of revising the current code of conduct was a dead one because there could be no amendments that can be made.

“The point of revising it is a dead one. I don’t see the current electoral code being amended. We are likely to go into this election with the old law. It will be helpful if our leaders could appeal to their cadres not to engage in violence. We are all Zambians I don’t think we need to kill each other,” Bishop Mususu said.

“Cadres should be disciplined to ensure that life is protected.”
And Bishop Mususu said it was evident that the campaigns had already started even before the election date could be announced and that there was no party which was innocent.

“Campaigns have already started and it is clear that the provisions of the law are not being respected, there is no party which is innocent. Everyone is in campaign mood, except maybe Heritage Party president Brigadier General Godfrey Miyanda. It is clear that the practical aspect of the law is not being followed.

One would have expected these parties to observe the law but that is not the case and at this stage, not even the ECZ Electoral Commission of Zambia can do something about it,” Bishop Mususu said.

During the launch of the election related programme of training of law enforcement agencies at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel on Wednesday,
ECZ said it expected the police to carry out its mandate in this year's elections without fear or favour and in an impartial manner.

ECZ commissioner Grace Mulapesi said the legal framework was already in place to support the work on the police.

Commissioner Mulapesi said the ECZ had noted with regret the growing incidences of violence that have been observed in the past few years especially during by elections such as in Mufumbwe.

“This has shifted the attention on how elections should be policed in Zambia. Elections are premised on the exercise of free preference manifesting itself in various forms of political expression,” Commissioner Mulapesi said.

And Inspector General of police Francis Kabonde at the same function warned that police would arrest any person who may attempt to incite or participate in any act of violence regardless of their political affiliation.

Kabonde, who called on the media not to incite people to breach the public peace, also urged stakeholders, political parties, civil society organisation and other interest groups to work closely with the ECZ if the country was to attain a violence-free election.

Meanwhile, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) country director Viola Morgan said the maintenance of law and order enabled candidates and voters to participate in political campaigns.

Morgan said a peaceful environment was a complement to a transparent, free and fair electoral process.

Labels: ECZ, GRACE MULAPESI, PAUL MUSUSU, POLICE

posted by MrK @ 5:00 AM