By MAIMBO MWEEMBA
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) has condemned the use of public resources during campaign period.
TI-Z Executive Director Maurice Nyambe said the network through its elections monitors are concerned with the tendency.
“Through our network of election monitors that are deployed across the country, we have noted with growing concern the increasing use of public resources such as district government vehicles, fire trucks and others, for campaign purposes. For instance, one of the infamous $1 million-dollar fire trucks was recently spotted at Mulungushi University in Central Province, helping with the mounting of a Patriotic Front billboard,” he said
Mr Nyambe said TI-Z has also reminded political parties of Article 60, 3(d) of the Zambian Constitution which stipulates that a political party shall not use public resources to promote its interest or that of its members.
“TI-Z also urges the ECZ to take interest since Article 3(b) of the Electoral Process Act No 35 of 2016 stipulates that it is the duty of the Commission to ensure that political parties do not use state resources to campaign for the benefit of any political party or candidate, we are concerned that the continued misuse of public resources to support the campaigns of the ruling party is skewing the political playing field in a manner that will not promote the conduct of free and fair elections. ” he said.
Mr Nyambe has started challenged the ECZ to also come strong on this issue to send a message that use of public resources to support the political activities of a particular party will not be tolerated in any way, shape or form.
