Maravi

Mutesa accuses MMD of double standards on PVT

Mutesa accuses MMD of double standards on PVT
By Florence Bupe
Wed 25 May 2011, 03:30 CAT

THE intention by the ruling MMD to spend huge sums of money on conducting its own PVT is a serious case of double standards and regressive in the quest for democracy, says Dr Fred Mutesa.

And Dr Mutesa has challenged those arguing that the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) did a good job in amending the Constitution to explain why the draft document did not succeed.

In an interview, Dr Mutesa, who is Zambians for Empowerment and Development president, said democracy was about levelling the playing field for all political parties, including those in the opposition.

He said the ruling MMD had clearly demonstrated its unwillingness to enhance democracy by putting in place rules that only favoured them as the party in power.

“It is ironical that the MMD is planning to spend K27 billion to carry out PVT (parallel vote tabulation) when they have been threatening other parties against the exercise, claiming it’s illegal. This constitutes a serious case of double standards and it is very unhealthy for our growing democracy,” he said.

Dr Mutesa said all well-meaning and patriotic Zambians should defend the legality of PVT, as it was a critical tool in the realisation of free, fair and transparent elections.

“By trying to criminalise PVT, the MMD is just aiming to disadvantage other political players and this should not happen in a democratic country,” Dr Mutesa said.

“The question that many political parties and Zambians at large are asking is what is the MMD trying to hide?”

Dr Mutesa said the MMD should disclose the intended source of the K27 billion to be spent on its PVT exercise in this year’s elections.

He said the current developments should propel Zambians to demand increased transparency and accountability in the use of public resources.

“This takes me back to ask that expenditure of public resources should be ratified by Parliament to prevent the party in power from abusing resources meant for developmental programmes,” said Dr Mutesa.

And Dr Mutesa said those defending the NCC draft constitution as a good piece of work should explain to the Zambian people why it did not succeed.

Chifumu Banda, who chaired the National Constitutional Conference that produced the draft constitution that failed to pass through Parliament, last week said the constitution-making process was handled in the best way and wondered why people were complaining.

“In my view, the NCC handled the constitution-making process in the best way possible according to expectations,” Banda said.

“Those who have read the (Constitution) document and applied their minds to it know that it was a good piece of work. The problem with some people is that they expect all their views to be accommodated in the Constitution,” he said.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, FRED MUTESA, VOTERIGGING

posted by MrK @ 3:32 PM