Maravi

Losing the PVT argument

Losing the PVT argument
By The Post
Fri 05 Aug. 2011, 14:00 CAT

We hope what Chris Akufuna, the spokesperson for the Electoral Commission of Zambia, has said on parallel vote tabulation will put this matter which had unnecessarily become contentious to rest.

Akufuna said that “the commission just like in the past will allow monitors, observers and polling agents to be present at the polling stations before polls open and indeed after the polls close. During counting, they election monitors, observers and polling agents will be given result sheets...whether they tabulate and do what they want with the results, that is not our business and through that we are able to explain even the contentious parallel vote tabulation”.

In short, what Akufuna is saying is that the Electoral Commission of Zambia has allowed or is allowing election monitors, observers and polling agents to run parallel vote tabulation. But where does this leave Rupiah Banda and the MMD who had outlawed parallel vote tabulation? In March this year, Rupiah warned that “any person who therefore computes and tabulates results other than those confirmed by the Electoral Commission of Zambia is not only usurping the power of the Electoral Commission of Zambia but committing a criminal offence”.

Will Rupiah be sending his police officers to arrest and prosecute those who engage in parallel vote tabulation despite the Electoral Commission of Zambia authorising it? What will the MMD youth wing in Lusaka, which had recently declared that they will not allow anyone to engage in parallel vote tabulation, do in the light of the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s position on the issue?

This is what happens in a nation when those in power think only of their interests. It is said that one shouldn’t set his heart on being a judge unless he has the strength of character it takes to put an end to injustice. This is the easiest way to disgrace oneself among one’s fellow citizens.

It’s clear that Rupiah was talking about things he doesn’t understand and his cadres blindly followed him. There is need to always stand up for what is right, even if it costs your life; the Lord God will be fighting on your side.

Rupiah should learn to concentrate on the law which has been given to him and save himself embarrassment.

Before a leader starts speaking, there is need to get facts straight and think the matter through. Admit when you are wrong, and you will avoid embarrassment. Rupiah was wrong. Parallel vote tabulation is legal. And he was told this by the Law Association of Zambia, but he didn’t want to listen. If he goes ahead threatening people who want to run parallel vote tabulation, then it is Rupiah himself who will be committing a crime. And this will be lawlessness on his part.

And we know that every lawless act leaves an incurable wound, like one left by a double-edged sword. If you refuse to accept correction, you are digging your own grave. A man may be intelligent, politically powerful, but when he is wrong, a sensible person will detect it. Rupiah and his minions were told that parallel vote tabulation is legal but they insisted that it was illegal and that they would deal with anyone who would try to engage in it. This will be lawlessness by a group of people who have no respect for the law. But we know that a group of people who have no respect for the law is like a pile of kindling; they will meet a fiery end.

But there is something we should learn from all this talk about parallel vote tabulation. A person’s talk shows his faults; it is like a sieve that separates out the rubbish. The way you think shows your character just as surely as a kiln shows any flaws in the pottery being fired. You can tell how well a tree has been cared for by the fruits it bears, and you can tell a person’s feelings by the way he expresses himself. When wise people talk, what they say always makes sense, but foolish people are always contradicting themselves.

It would have been a serious mistake to outlaw parallel vote tabulation. Anything that increases the credibility of our electoral process deserves support. We need election results that are respected by both the winners and the losers. Parallel vote tabulation is necessary because it will increase public confidence in the election results, people will feel confident that the results are accurate and that the government that will emerge from the elections does, indeed, rest upon their consent.

It is very important for the losers to accept the judgment of the voters. If the election result is only accepted by the winners, then there is a serious problem because not only do we risk the possibility of post-electoral conflict but we also reduce or undermine the possibility of both the winners and the losers agreeing to come together to co-operate in solving the common problems of the society.

Opposition to parallel vote tabulation can only come from people whose minds are polluted with electoral fraud and malpractice. Those who want to see free and fair elections can never oppose or stand in the way of parallel vote tabulation. It is sad when elections are marred with fraud and unfairness. Elections should be conducted well and should never be a matter of fraud or coercions since that would break the sacred character of democracy.

It is good that the issue of parallel vote tabulation has been explained by the Electoral Commission of Zambia. Now, those who want to engage in parallel vote tabulation should go about their business openly. And anyone who will try to hinder their work will be committing a crime for which they should be arrested and prosecuted. Rupiah and his minions have lost the battle to stop parallel vote tabulation. And we hope they will not engage in activities that will infringe on the rights of those who want to carry out parallel vote tabulation. If this happens, the first blame will be on Rupiah himself.

And we urge Rupiah to make an announcement on this score and tell his cadres that parallel vote tabulation has been found to be legal by the Electoral Commission of Zambia and they should not interfere in any way with anyone involved in it. This will help reduce the possibility of his cadres carrying out their resolution to deal with those who will be involved in parallel vote tabulation. It’s a humiliation for Rupiah. But that’s what life is. It is said that character is tested under the furnace of humiliation.

Labels: CHRIS AKAFUNA, ECZ, VOTERIGGING

posted by MrK @ 5:39 PM