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Poll inadquances have exposed gaps in Constitution - ZCID

Poll inadquances have exposed gaps in Constitution - ZCID
By Kombe Chimpinde
Wed 28 Sep. 2011, 13:58 CAT

Inadequacies witnessed during the polls have exposed the many serious gaps in the existing Republican Constitution, according to ZCID. And ZCID has called on all Zambians and political parties against political retribution.

Zambia Centre for Inter Party Dialogue (ZCID) executive director Chomba Chella told journalists that the many gaps had continued to render the country's electoral process weak and prone to suspicion.

"A good electoral process should be one that is clearly embedded in the law in such a way that it makes electoral contest smooth and predictable," Chella said.

He said there was need for an electoral process guided by clear constitutional principles that make participants comfortable.

Chella noted that for this to be done, there was need to ensure laws that would guide the duration of the announcement of elections; ensure low cases of electoral violence; prevent the marked high level of intimidation among the electorate; and the unprofessional conduct by the police service.

"Despite the massive support the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) received from government and cooperating partners, the election management body's performance was below par compared to 2008. For instance, in a number of polling districts, materials arrived late, thereby delaying the voting process, causing unnecessary anxiety and in some cases violence. Some electoral commission officers were also clearly partisan," he said.

And Chella said that ZCID had received numerous cases of political retribution.
Chella said that political retribution must not be allowed to continue because it took away from the hard reputation of Zambia as a democratic nation.
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Labels: POLLING, ZCID

posted by MrK @ 3:59 PM