The ruling Patriotic Front (PF) says it does not support the upward adjustment of nomination fees announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
“As a militant organisation of revolutionary peasants, workers and intellectuals that believes in equitable participation in the affairs of our nation by all citizens regardless of socio-economic status, the Patriotic Front wishes to register its strongest displeasure with the proposed upward revision of nomination fees as recently announced by the Electoral Commission of Zambia,” says Secretary General Davies Mwila.
Mr Mwila said the proposed upward revision is not only elitist, but it would also be tantamount to the commercialisation of participation in democratic processes where the destiny of the majority “have nots” is hijacked by a minority “haves”.
“Patriotic Front remains committed to the participation and representation in democratic processes of youth, women and differently abled persons as a matter of right and not privilege. We support their proportional representation in Parliament as proposed under Bill 10, and we further call for lower nomination fees in order to maximize involvement of the youth, women and differently abled persons in running the affairs of the nation.”
He added, “In order to safeguard our country’s democracy, we call for downward adjustment instead. Zambia must not be put up for auction to the highest bidder.”
The upwards increase of these nomination fee proposals is very high without any justification and it projects an elitist attitude to the ordinary sensible citizens whose capacity to raise such fees would be challenging and yet some individuals in this category would be the most valuable to go to parliament or assume public office for public good. Money should not be the basis of electing Zambians who have the capacity and intelligence to contribute effectively to our democracy. Fees are too high without any meaningful justification.
Nomination fees at all levels be increased by 1/4 of previous fees.
Please jail those idyots at ECZ for equating women with disabled people. It is unbelievable that women in this era should be discriminated so publicly, putting them in same category as the mentally disabled people like Mulyokela.
Nostradamus! I like the way you are able to read between the lines. Kudos.
If a candidate cannot mobilize resources for the campaign, then they have no capacity to marshal resources for development. However, what is the basis for affirmative action?
“As a militant organisation of revolutionary peasants, workers and intellectuals that believes in equitable participation in the affairs of our nation by all citizens regardless of socio-economic status,”
This man considers is gang of thieves as intellectuals????
ECZ is an organ of government and PF party is in government….. Mwila should consult his boss before he talks of ECZ…. ECZ cant do things without the approval of Mwila’s boss……….
Don’t pretend ……you want to show you care ……..wenye….
Here I choose to disagree with my brother. I believe that it will get rid of Mediocre chancers who only appear during election time and waste our time and resources during elections.
If anything, ECZ should consider adjusting the fees even higher. ECZ has to prepare for out of budget expenses and also the monies that these candidates make after winning cant be compared to the nomination fees. People must stop wanting to milk money from state institutions! Why are these politicians so greedy!? They are so nauseating
KZ I agree with you.
Money is not wisdom. Money must not be a measure for a councillor or an MP. We need to people with qualities and not people who be possitions after elections will start boasting saying they bought the positions.
KZ ….There is one mediocre MP in Sinda .Did you watch his debate ?The man is an absolute waste of tax payers cash and a joke and shouldn’t be an MP anywhere in the world .
It the Era of Equal rights why are Women Candidates paying less. It should all be the same.
Mwila, whom are you trying to fool. You are the ones proposing the amounts because you have stolen enough.