official opening of Parliament.
STATEMENT BY THE BRITISH HIGH COMMISSIONER FOLLOWING THE ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE RESULT OF THE 2015 PRESIDENTIAL BY-ELECTION
First let me congratulate the Electoral Commission of Zambia. Organising the election at short notice was a tough job. They had to recruit and train around 40,000 temporary staff to run the polling stations; those whom I observed seemed to be doing a very good job. The weather significantly complicated the running of the election.
The election process itself had numerous checks in it to prevent fraud. And it was very transparent. Party agents were able to observe all the voting and key elements of the tallying process.
I wish to commend Justice Mambilina. She is a lady of unimpeachable integrity. We can have confidence in an election result that she has announced.
Second, let me congratulate the winner of the election, Edgar Lungu. I look forward to attending his inauguration tomorrow. The British Government will work with him and his government for the further development of this country.
Third, let me offer my commiserations to the losers, and in particular to Hakainde Hichilema and his supporters. It is hard to come close yet not to win. I welcome the fact that HH has called for his supporters to remain calm and avoid violence.
Lastly, this close election has made Zambia seem a little more divided than before. I hope that both the President-Elect and HH can work to create unity and reconciliation.
ECZ should be supported in its stance as a credible professional institution whose results should always resonate credibility. We’ll done Justice Mambilima and your team.The ‘iron lady’ has always been one not to intimidate, such people make me a proud Zambian!
Democracy can only be credible when the population has a certain level of education…a panga waving president wins an election in Zambia from a party that clearly didnt respect their own constitution to get to the national election…the levels of corruption in Zambia have just gone up a 100 fold…the Nigerians are in full swing, road contracts are on the market…poverty, sickness are our cup of tea…we have a sick president, a drunk who stole money from a client just ‘yesterday’ is the sole number citizen of Zambia…we need a new constitution, 50+1% should be the way forward…
Mr Thornton we thank you for your objective and independent analysis. It is interesting how these UPND chaps were showering praise on ECZ Chairperon Justice Mambilima when their leader HH was narrowing the gap but then when the final results started to come in and the inevitable became clearer they then changed like chameleons and started hurling insults which some of us know they are accustomed to. All the main international observing bodies from TIZ to the UN, to AU and SADC all have deemed these elections free and fair… I suggest for those that are resident in the UK such as one Larry Mweetwa AKA Wanzelu that now wish to hurl insults at your UK government you should seriously consider deporting from the UK as they are promoters of hate.
BA ZAMBIA WE LOVE YOU
NOMBA NI EL2016
ALL I CAN SAY IS WELL DONE LT…WHAT A NICE PICTURE OF HE ECL…IT ADDS LIFE TO THE SITE AND GOOD TO SEE YOU HAVE SUBJECTED ALL HH SUPPORTERS TO IT… GIVE YOURSELVES A BELL’S…!
I HATE TO SAY THIS BUT WE DO YOU BA UPND DIDNT WE..?
PEACE
This means more business and benefits for the Uk and Europe and more suffering for most zambians.
This MI5 spy doesnt give a toss about zambia at all. Europe benefits more from corrupt Governments. Glencore, FQM, Vedanta reap huge profits and are protected by the rich nations.
Next we get statistics on number of jobs created, this 40000 will be included!!!
Iron Lady indeed. Please Edgar appoint this Lady Chief Justice.
British High Colonisers just shut your trap! We will have our own judgement of ECZ not one from those who denied us democracy!
Next time the govt should turn down donation to supplement elections from foreign govts like Britain and the likes honestly can we not raise £2 million if we were short by that amount?
Yes, free and fair but we have put another empty tin in State House to continue where the last one left off before retiring permanently to Embassy Park.
Could not have put it better myself. Zambia, brace yourselves for things to come!
This means more business and benefits for the Uk and Europe and more suffering for most zambians.
This MI5 spy doesnt give a toss about zambia at all. Europe benefits more from corrupt Governments. Glencore, FQM, Vedanta reap huge profits and are protected by the rich nations.
Jay Jay that’s about a third of our national budget. Get down home and be involved in growing your economy as a skilled Zambian and only travel to where you are at on holiday. That way Zambia will earn the economic respect it deserves.
I do agree begging must be the least on everyone’s self esteem, nevertheless ‘ Mwine musunga? ….talamba minwe! Beggars cannot be choosers in English.
But ulikapuba iwe! What makes you think Edgar is an empty tin? Your dull HH is the empty tin who thinks everything revolves around him becoming president.
@Chinchi
Please we are poor but not that poor…please give our budget some respect as its worth alot more than that not even tax from the mines is worth that amount in a quarter.
Kodi malilio yali ku Mutendere? Wina azalila – again!
Lusaka Times please confirm for us: zimbabwe and South Africa media are reporting that Mugabe was booed in lusaka. IS this true?
They say Mugabe was confronted at the swraring in by Zambian protesters who shouted Mugabe must go ! Zambians expressed their dislike for him because of his continued 35-years grip on power. Twebeniko
Lies, the man received a standing ovation
We voted for Edgar and you call us fools? Ok we’ll never vote for you! Look for those who are not fools to vote for HH!
Obviously LT failed to highlight the High commissioner’s major concern and observation; that Zambia’s by elections brought divisions.
Like Obama’s emergency on the American political scene has brought a severe backlash on the African American population. One can compare this backlash to what those that voted for HH from the regions of south western and northern western zambia are experiencing.
The insults are increasing becoming unbelievably unbearable.
Absolutely High Commissioner, the divisions are deep rooted!
Just to add on~
Mr. Thornton said that, “Lastly, this close election has made Zambia seem a little more divided than before”.
Honestly speaking, the results and numbers indicates that, almost half of the electorates rebuked and voted for both HH(46%) & EL(48%) respectively.
EL 48% ruling the HH viva 46%, seriously, another country can be found because Zambians have resorted to voting on tribal lines not on the credentials and qualities of a leadership.
The tempering of the votes & rigging is not democracy I’m afraid to say the least. A presidential candidate should not hold any ministerial or govt position such as Edgar Lungu did, Justice & Defense portfolios. ZAF carrying ballot papers whilst Lungu was minister is fraud.
Anyway good day PF & Edgar Lungu…