By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) have noted with deep regret the decision by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ban opposition political rallies.
PeP leader Sean Tembo alleges that while at the opposition rallies have been banned, the PF party have continue holding rallies across the country under the excuse of inspecting developmental projects.
“We also need to hold rallies so that we can inspect the suffering of the Zambian people across the nation, in the same manner and fashion that President Lungu is inspecting his so-called “developmental projects”. What is good for the gander is good for the goose,” he said.
Mr Tembo said it is evident to that the ECZ does not have teeth to bite the ruling party political aspirants when they abrogate the ban on public rallies.
“The only teeth which the ECZ has are for biting opposition political aspirants, such double standards on the part of the Commission has made us too strongly doubt whether ECZ is even capable of delivering free and fair elections this year,” he said.
Mr Tembo said t that every day that goes by as the 12 August polls nears; the Commission appears to be abandoning all pretenses that it is an impartial and independent body that is adjudicating on the electoral process.
“The commission has now adopted a bold affiliation to the ruling PF party, the Electoral Commission of Zambia is now undeniably the mouthpiece of the ruling PF party and stands ready to do the bidding of the ruling party at every available opportunity,” he said.
Mr Tembo said that Zambian people will therefore be naïve to expect this year’s general elections to be free and fair when the supposed referee has effectively turned into a player.
“The commission is ready and willing to do the bidding of the ruling PF party, as bonafide citizens of this Republic we have a duty and obligation to stand up, step forward and compel ECZ to discharge its mandate with objectivity and integrity, or at least a semblance thereof,” he said.
