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Let the will of the people prevail - KK

Let the will of the people prevail - KK
By Ernest Chanda
Thu 15 Sep. 2011, 13:55 CAT

DR KENNETH Kaunda has appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to let the will and the interests of the people prevail without let or hindrance so that Zambia can maintain its historic reputation as an oasis of peace and tranquility.

And Dr Kaunda has urged ECZ to listen to people's concerns over the corruption of United Print Group (UPG), a South Africa company engaged to print ballot papers for next week's general elections.

Commenting on revelations that UPG has been been bribing some senior officials at ECZ in order to obtain contracts, Dr Kaunda, who is first Republican president and has been engaged by ECZ to promote peaceful elections, said the Commission's silence on the matter threatened the country's peace and stability.

"The revelation that the printing company selected to print ballot papers for next week's elections has been involved in acts of corruption with Electoral Commission of Zambia officers is a grave indictment on the election process that is currently being facilitated by the Commission. This, in itself, threatens the peace and stability of our country because it undermines the credibility of our electoral process in the eyes of our people," Dr Kaunda said.

"It breeds justifiable suspicions of possible collusion and electoral malpractices that may lead to the election results not being accepted by both the losers and the winners. Already, warnings are being issued of possible election rigging. It is therefore in all our interests that the Electoral Commission of Zambia rises to the challenge and deals with the complications that have been created by the revelations of the character of the company chosen to print our ballot papers to the reasonable satisfaction of all key political players. Ignoring such a serious problem may prove to be a naïve and costly mistake that our country cannot afford."

Dr Kaunda said it was important that ECZ officials called for an immediate meeting with stakeholders to deal with the problem. He said in any election, the most important thing to respect was the will of the people.

"I call upon the Electoral Commission of Zambia, on whose behalf I have advocated for peace, to act in a way that makes the preservation of peace possible regardless of the outcome of these elections. This will require that they urgently sit with all the key political players, including the Church, to ensure that this problem is resolved in the best way possible for our country," Dr Kaunda said.

"Such an approach will ensure that as we go to vote next week, all our people will have reason to believe that their concerns have been dealt with. Let the will and the interests of the people prevail without let or hindrance so that Zambia can maintain its historic reputation as an oasis of peace and tranquility."

Dr Kaunda said in order to have free and fair elections, certain conditions had to prevail that would satisfy every participant. He said there ought to be transparency in the conduct of any election so that the outcome is accepted by all contestants.

"To have peaceful, free and fair elections, certain conditions have to prevail in our country and in our minds and hearts. There ought to be a conducive atmosphere. The major political players have to agree on the conditions under which next week's elections would be held," Dr Kaunda said.

"The contestants have to conduct themselves in a manner that does not put others at an unfair disadvantage. There ought to be transparency in the organisation and conduct of the election.

"The Electoral Commission of Zambia, as facilitators of the elections, should ensure that the concerns of all key players are adequately addressed. This is the only way we will ensure peace and stability in our country before, during and after elections. To achieve peace, we need to deal honestly and sincerely with all legitimate concerns that are raised. Having been selected to champion the call for peaceful elections, I find it fitting to add to my role a necessary call for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to deal with serious concerns that have been raised that appear to be going unattended."

Dr Kaunda said since he had been engaged by ECZ to call for peace, it was necessary to state that the peace he was calling for anchored in justice, honesty and truth.

He said it was not the first time he was making a call for peaceful elections, but that he did the same on the eve of the 1991 elections as incumbent president then.

"I have been invited by the facilitators of our elections to appeal to our people to exercise their right to vote and do so in a peaceful manner. This message of mine is carried on billboards all over our country; they are broadcast to the masses of our people on radio and television and they are highly publicised in newspaper advertisements. The peace and harmony that I am calling for is that which is anchored in justice, honesty and truth. And if peace is to accompany our elections, the primary requisite is to eradicate the causes or possible causes of dissension among our key political players and their supporters," said Dr Kaunda.

"I am not making this call for the first time. I did the same when I was president of the Republic on the eve of those epoch-breaking elections of October 1991. What was required of me at that time is required of the Electoral Commission today. I wish to draw your attention to my address to the nation of 30 October 1991."

Labels: 2011 ELECTIONS, ECZ, KENNETH KAUNDA

posted by MrK @ 6:47 PM