Maravi

Address UPG issue before polls, pastor urges ECZ

Address UPG issue before polls, pastor urges ECZ
By Mwala Kalaluka in Mongu
Wed 14 Sep. 2011, 14:00 CAT

A MONGU clergyman says it will not be wise for the country to proceed into this year's elections when there are still contentious issues involving United Print Group's alleged corrupt activities.

Mongu Pentecostal Assemblies of God senior pastor Raphael Silwamba said in an interview yesterday that the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ should address the corruption allegations involving South Africa's UPG before the polls for the elections to be free and fair.

Pastor Silwamba said people would love to proceed into the elections with a clear conscience that the polls would be free and fair.

"We have heard voices raise up concern over this company engaged in printing of ballot papers and corruption being levelled against it," pastor Silwamba said.

" In real sense, it will be prudent for the ECZ to sit and think because if these things are still on and we are going for elections, it will be difficult maybe for anyone to accept the results."

He said the ECZ should not have rushed into allowing UPG to print ballot papers while ignoring the other voices of concern.

"We would have gone first to iron out any differences, any concerns, which people are raising so that as we go for elections, everybody knows everything is clear," pastor Silwamba said.

"We should value our peace and this is really what we need because if concerns are not taken care of and we ignore these voices, it's not good for us as a nation."

He called on the ECZ to chart the way forward on the issues so that all the concerns are taken care of.

"We don't want to see a situation where people refrain from voting because they say maybe it's predetermined or things like that," said pastor Silwamba.

"We don't want to see a situation where people say we know already what has happened. We want to go in the election with a clear conscience, clear understanding that we are all Zambians, we are all free to vote freely and fairly and everything is on the proper platform."

Recently, the Anti Corruption Commission ACC disputed revelations that it was investigating UPG, a South African company awarded a contract by the ECZ to print ballot papers for next week's elections, over payments of kickbacks to ECZ officials relating to their facilitation of the award of the above tender to UPG.

However, documents obtained by The Post indicate that ACC lied when it denied revelations that it was investigating UPG over paying ECZ employees bribes.

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, VOTERIGGING

posted by MrK @ 5:19 PM