The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it still holds the position that the 2011 general elections were free and fair despite the many nullification of Parliamentary seats that have arisen from the polls.
ECZ Chairperson Irene Mambilima says for an election to be judged free and fair, one need to look at the full cycle of an election process that includes having a credible voters’ register, people conducting campaign freely and electorates going out to vote without being intimidated to vote in a certain way.
Justice Mambilima this is why as far as other stakeholders that monitored the general election were concerned, the 2011 polls were free and fair as the commission believes it had a credible voters’ register, people were free to campaign and that people came out in great numbers to vote their minds.
Speaking at media luncheon in Lusaka this afternoon, Justice Mambilima has also stated that the nullification of elections results of some Parliamentary seats that have come after the 2011 general election is not the Commission’s concern.
She says this is because in most of the cases the grounds of nullification bordered mostly on corrupt activities and vote buying vices which she says are beyond the commission.
And Justice Mambilima has disclosed that preparations for the 2016 general elections are on course.
She says besides conducting voter education across the country, the commission has also already prepared a report to propose to political parties on how it will go about the elections in the event that constituencies are increase from the current 150 seats before the 2016 polls.
Justice Mambilima has also maintained if the government printers or any other printing company does not meet the standards required to print ballot papers locally by 2016, the ECZ will have no choice but to print the ballot papers outside the country.
Indeed madam. The elections were free and fair. It is just a pity that we have an evil person for a President who is mutilating our electoral choices through his puppet of a relative in the position of Chief Justice. Pukuchwe munyela siliba!
Yes the elections where free-and fair. Sata won!! The elections which was stolen was 2006, I don’t even want to remember that, because this time we would have COUNTING DOWN Sata’s last days!! Damnt MMD, idyiots plunderers, they stole even Sata’s erections………….!? Look now we continue we even risky having him till 2020, noways no no no 2021 that man, it is unimaginable!
she is over lived her usefulness
Thanks
Rather you ka Mushota have over lived your usefulness!
I can’t believe I’m the first to comment on this thread. I want to thank the spirit of my late mother for standing by me to achieve this great feat. I also want to thank my siblings for their support on this endeavor. I also send my sincere appreciation to Airtel for making their network functional at the time I commented on this thread. And the biggest praise goes to almighty God for his protection and guidiance.
To the lusaka times family I say shalom. It is never an easy thing to be FTC. Keep trying hard. You will surely get there.
Thanks
*drops mic*
@Zemuntu, is it an issue to be number 1 to comment; you are still living in primary school when passing number 1 was important or sitting in group 1. Get over it.
@Zemuntu
In any case, you are not even the first one, wooo!
Wish there were more Justices like you.
Yes they were BUT the website could not provide information we needed to counter check. Upto now its crushed. We hope the web could be updated so that the general public could visit any time and check .
2011 elections were free but not fair as the MMD campaign style was to distribute materiak things in exchange for votes.This disadvantaged other political players did not have access to public resources and had limited resouces.We all witnessed trees countrywide for the first time in the history of Zambian elections to see clothing of the trees.If that is what is called free and fair election,someone has to educate me.
It was free and fair, only to justify that, the useless leadership was somewhat by choice!