By ALICE NACHILEMBE
GEARS Initiative has commended Political Leaders on the smooth nominations for the vacant seat of Kabwata Constituency in Lusaka Urban which proceeded peacefully and orderly.
GEARS Executive Director Mcdonald Chipenzi said the seven political parties that filed in their nominations namely Socialist’s Tigher N’gandu, PF’s Clement Tembo, EEP’s Chilufya Tayali, PeP’s Henry Muleya, UPP’s Franchis Libanda and PAC’s Zyambo Sydney and UPND’s Tayengwa Andrew must be commended for carrying out their nominations in order lines making the work of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and Zambia Police Service easier.
Mr Chipenzi said GEARS Initiative which monitored the process from start to end expressed gratitude to note the smoothness and peacefulness of the nominations despite presence of jubilant clouds of supporters of each participating political party.
He also commended the Security men and women for ensuring there was tight at the nomination centre and to see that overzealous cadres were peacefully managed by the police men and women.
“GEARS Initiative also wishes to speak to reports that ECZ refused to accept the Democratic Party’s intention to field a candidate and that it would not allow any of their camp to file any nominations because of their leadership wrangles, if true, the Commission did not have the mandate to stop a legally registered political party to sponsor candidates for elective office.
“Once a political party has presented certificate of registration from the Registrar of Societies just like G12 certificate verified by the ECZ (education), it has no powers to reject such unless through a nomination challenge by concerned political parties or candidates,” he said.
