Transparency International Zambia-TIZ has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia-ECZ to ensure that the individual it appoints as the new Chief Electoral Officer-CEO has no political affiliation.
The Electoral Commission earlier announced that the Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano would leave ECZ on 7 August 2022 following a mutual agreement between both parties. Nshindano has served the commission since August 2019.
TIZ President Sampa Kalunga said different independent stakeholders should agree upon the next appointee so that even at a time when the UPND government leaves office; the individual would remain in office.
Speaking in an interview with the Zambian Business Times-ZBT, Kalunga said the appointment should be a sober one to avoid people losing confidence in the Electoral Commission therefore the need to refrain from appointing somebody because he/she sides with the ruling party.
“They should avoid appointing a person that will have to be changed with change of government. The new Chief Electoral Officer should have no political affiliations hence the appointment should go beyond praise singers”, he said.
Kalunga noted that there is need to build something that will lead the country into good systems of democracy and good governance.
“If they make a mistake and appoint somebody who is inclined only to the views of the UPND we won’t go anywhere”, he said.
