THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has pledged not to succumb to any political pressure in any elections in the country.
ECZ Chairperson Irene Mambilima said the commission would not succumb to any amount of pressure that would be brought on to the commission by political party leaders in holding free and fair elections.
Ms Mambilima who was accompanied by ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac said the commission would continue remaining independent in ensuring that it conducts f a free, fair and credible election in the country.
The chairperson was speaking when she was answering to concerns of the youths during the youth conference against electoral malpractice and violence held at Luangwa Lodge in Chipata on Saturday.
She said the aspiration of Zambians to have a free and fair election would not be met if the commission was exert to pressure from the political party leaders.
“The commission would continue with its work of remaining impartial during any elections and it will not exert to pressure from political party leaders during elections,” she said.
Ms Mambilima said the commission would continue with goodwill towards collective task of delivering free, fair and credible elections in the country.
She said the commission was continue engaging political parties in any election to ensure that they understood the commission.
Ms Mambilima also cautioned participating political parties not to engage into vote buying.
Speaking at the same meeting Eastern Province Local Government Officer Macloud Nyirenda and Chipata Town Clerk Ekan Chingangu said the conference was aimed at averting violence and other firms of electoral malpractices in the forthcoming Chipata Central parliamentary by-election.
And Youths from various political parties pledged not to engage into political violence ahead of the parliamentary by-election.
The meeting was attended by various youths from political parties and church leaders who were found in Chipata Central constituency.
The meeting was also attended by ECZ Senior Public Relations Officer Sylvia Bwalya and Chipata Central parliamentary by-election returning officer Michael Ngulube.
Stay our ground please justice mambilima!! just becareful PF vampires can send AIDS striken Judge chikopo chikopa to come after you….
Tell the Chief Injustice Chibesakunda to bear same attitude as you. The woman has become an axis of evil joining the likes of Meembe and the catholic bosses in Zambia by carrying out Sataz evil schemes against percived PF “obstacles.”
One of the few bright spots left in the system, please madam, keep it up.
This all very well, but does not deal with the challenge in the long term.
The ECZ can not be independent for as long as the people running it are presidential appointees. This applies to other key public offices including Inspector General Police, Chief Justice, etc, etc.
Totally agree with you Anna. We should rely on the strength of a system, not the whims of individuals no matter how well intended they sound.
There can be no real independence as long as you are appointed madame Mambilima.
Dont cheat us madam!
A very credible woman
I like your message. Dont buy votes.our democracy is getting there.with all thr buy election, the message has been sent. Dont buy votes.
when you buy the vote and the losing candindate takes you to court, the chances are that you will lose. So dont buy votes.the message is clear.