International governance watchdog local unit, Transparency International Zambia – TIZ has disclosed that the Electoral Commission of Zambia ECZ are to be blame for the record low voter turnout recorded for both Kabushi and Kwacha Constituencies on the Copperbelt.
The recently held Kwacha by-elections in Kitwe recorded a shocking 14% voter turn out while Kabushi of Ndola recorded another record low voter turn out of about 24%, a voter turn out that questions the credibility and community endorsement as well as representativeness of the final results.
Voters in the two constituencies as per inference from the final voter turn out, shunned taking part after it emerged that main opposition and immediate past ruling party – the Patriotic Front – PF candidates had been barred from re-contesting on legal and political technicalities, thereby denying the residents their right to pick leaders of their choice.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, TIZ President Sampa Kalunga stated that there was a lot of what the institution termed as ‘political engineering’ which resulted into illegal activities taking place in the two constituencies.
“The two by-elections have left a big dent in the country’s democratic credentials and the quality of the justice system as there were a lot of political fighting between the ruling UPND and the main opposition PF.” he told ZBT.
Kalunga said the Kabushi and Kwacha by-election have made the courts look indecisive and very contradicting, we have seen that whenever the courts have tried to interpret the law, citizens have been left with more questions than they went with.
“We have seen where courts fail to give a clear no and a clear yes, a situation that has raised questions about the courts ability to deliver justice as they were meant to.” The TIZ President said the two by-elections have rendered the country’s democratic credentials, the courts and the justice system to be highly questioned and the perception of a number of people is that they demand for answers that are clear for all to understand.
“As much as we respect the courts, they have not lived up to our expectations as the by-elections have really damaged the reputation of all the key stakeholders.”
“We have become less – in terms of democracy during this time of by-elections in the two constituencies and also our courts have given us less confidence in the way they have handled the issues concerning the elections and further the ECZ itself has rendered itself to be questioned whether it is capable of being an impartial body that can handle the elections in Zambia fairly.” He said.
“President Hakainde Hichilema – HH was campaigning even before judgement was passed, this can be construed that he knew something before anybody else.”
“There is need for the governing UPND to learn that such behaviour were we see certain projects only being inspected during campaigns is leading back to the same system which used to happen in the previous regime.”
“We have also seen the government itself being overbearing we cannot do this, we have been over delayed tactical unfairly delays were somebody from the government cannot be present at the court so that they wait for the time to elapse.”
“The pain we having is being reminded of the same things that were happening in the previous government continuing happening under the UPND government.” He said.
The governing UPND won both constituencies amid what some have described as voter silent treatment that saw the elections being shunned. The UPND candidates total voter tally was too low to win such big constituencies, but’s its supporters contend that the low voter turn out shows that people are happy with the current government and that large turn out are for we’re their is a need for change of government.
