Maravi

Amnesty International sets standards for govt ahead of elections

Amnesty International sets standards for govt ahead of elections
By Misheck Wangwe in Kitwe
Mon 06 June 2011, 04:01 CAT

AMNESTY International Zambia says President Rupiah Banda has a moral obligation of creating a favourable environment for every citizen ahead of the elections.

In an interview yesterday, Amnesty International Zambia national coordinator Zebbies Mumba said the international community expected President Banda to demonstrate true leadership by embracing and respecting the rights of every citizen regardless of their political affiliation.

Mumba said it was sad that in developing countries like Zambia, tenets of democracy during elections were usually violated by people in government to protect their selfish political interests.

He said Zambians should demand that institutions of governance like the police, the public media and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) be left to operate independently without interference if the country was to see credible elections.

“We need law enforcers like the police service to operate independently, to respect the rights and freedoms of citizens without political interference.

Institutions like the ECZ should operate autonomously and maintain its integrity for people to have confidence in the electoral process,” Mumba said.

Mumba said it would be difficult for the country to hold credible, free and fair elections if President Banda’s government and all electoral players decline to put the interest of the nation first.

“For the country to hold free and fair elections, all electoral players must show real patriotism because Zambia is above everyone. This is a democratic country meaning every citizen has a right to belong to any political grouping or to vote for a leader of their choice without being intimidated or corrupted,” Mumba said.

He said it was disappointing to note that in the run-up to elections, government leaders on many occasions abuse their power and fail to accept people’s decisions.

He said the country had many battles to fight after the elections such as corruption, ineffective governance and lack of a people driven constitution.
President Banda last week said it would be tragic for the MMD and the country if he lost this year’s elections.

Addressing a press briefing at State House, President Banda said he would win the elections and losing would not be part of his failures.

“My task is to fight hard day and night and ensure that we win this election because if we don’t win this election, from what we are hearing from our colleagues and from the records of some of these people who are standing and want to run this country, I think it will be tragic if the MMD and I don’t win this election,” said President Banda. “I believe we will win this election and we will achieve the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) much sooner than the target deadline.”

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL

posted by MrK @ 2:00 PM