The Government has said it will use diplomatic channels to complain against United States Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella if he continues pushing for the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) system, which the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Government have rejected.
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande said the Government would not allow activities that were likely to lead to chaos in Zambia just to serve the interests of a few individuals and organisations.
Mr Pande said in an interview in Lusaka yesterday that the ECZ was a qualified institution that should be allowed to conduct the elections without hindrance.
He said it was not right to offer an important task such as PVT to non-governmental organisations (NGOs) when the country already had the ECZ, which was a competent statutory body.[pullquote]Mr Chifire said the NGOs were known to consistently work against the Government, undermine its mandate and scandalise it without cause, and that they were always on hand to support the opposition, and Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata in particular.[/pullquote]
“As the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, we have a way in which we raise certain concerns and we will do so if he continues to agitate for that (PVT). We can’t allow things which will be a recipe for controversy.
“We need to rely on qualified institutions such as the ECZ. People who are not qualified are highly vulnerable to human error which can land the county in problems,” he said.
Mr Storella told journalists on Tuesday that the US government would support NGOs advocating for the PVT, arguing that it was the right thing in a democratic dispensation and that it was not the first time it was being done in Zambia.
Mr Storella could, however, not state whether the support would be in financial or material form.
Chief Government spokesperson Ronnie Shikapwasha said Mr Storella had been accredited to work in Zambia and should do so in accordance with the laws of the land as well as the Geneva Convention.
Lieutenant-General Shikapwasha said the ECZ, which is mandated to conduct polls in Zambia, had clearly stated that it did not support parallel vote tabulation.
Gen Shikapwasha, who is Information and Broadcasting Services minister, further said the Zambian laws did not support PVT activities.
He said if some stakeholders had certain concerns over the electoral process in Zambia, they were free to seek dialogue with the Government.
And the Committee of Citizens has said it is shocked with a statement by Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) that it will defy the directive by the ECZ and go ahead to conduct the PVT.
Committee of Citizens executive director Gregory Chifire said SACCORD’s assertions that PVT was legal were not true and the argument that it was conducted by the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) in 2008 was unfounded.
“It needs no emphasis that the conduct of national elections or referenda is exclusively a preserve of the ECZ as enshrined in Article 76 of the Laws of Zambia and other subsidiary legislation.
“The announcement by SACCORD to defy the law will breed anarchy in the country. This announcement gives us a window of the malicious intentions of the PVT by this sinister consortium of NGOs,” he said.
Mr Chifire said the ECZ had continued to carry out initiatives that made Zambia’s national elections transparent, free and fair.
He said ECZ initiatives included the invitation of all stakeholders to witness the printing of ballot papers, provision of transparent ballot boxes, inclusion of monitors from all stakeholders, invitation of foreign observers, tallying of votes and announcing of results at polling centres, among others.
“The NGOs’ justification that the PVT brings integrity to the electoral process is not true because of their known malicious intention in using this electoral tool,” he said.
He said the American-based National Democratic Institute (NDI) would spend £3.8 million (US$5 million) to sponsor the Press Freedom Committee of The Post, Caritas Zambia, Anti-Voter Apathy Project and SACCORD to establish the PVT during elections.
Mr Chifire said the NGOs were known to consistently work against the Government, undermine its mandate and scandalise it without cause, and that they were always on hand to support the opposition, and Patriotic Front leader Michael Sata in particular.
“It is for this reason that we are opposing the use of the PVT in the forthcoming elections as it would be used to destabilise the country,” he said.
And former PF secretary general Edward Mumbi urged Zambians to insist that only the ECZ was the legal institution charged with handling the elections.
“Zambians should not agree to succumb to foreign influence which can cause chaos in the country,” Mr Mumbi said.
Meanwhile, the MMD in Ndola has appealed to some diplomats and civil society organisations to consult the Government and other stakeholders on why they are opposed to the introduction of a parallel vote count system in Zambia.
MMD Ndola District chairperson Victor Konie said in a statement released yesterday that those championing the introduction of the parallel vote count system should explain what was wrong with the system where the ECZ was the only authorised body to issue election results.
[Times of Zambia]
Ba movement for mad dogs (mmd), why are you scared of the PVT? You know you have something to hide. Bafikkala you know that you are losing and thats why you want to rig the elections. You know that you are not popular among Zambians as you are a minority govt. For the sake of avoiding, Tunisia, Egypt or Libya style coming to Zambia, corrupt mmd just accept the PVT. As far as we are concerned, mmd this tear you are going out, because we know the Zambians dont want mmd thieves and your corruption. VIVA PVT, VIVA PF.
USA wants clean politics in Africa. Thank you Mr Diplomat we need your help here. Everybody knows that this Government wants to rig the election. If not so ,why is RuBish Banda government panicking?! If you are confortable stop panicking and welcome this move.
MMD is too corrupt so much that they are scared even of their own shadows. If an independent body tabulates results, what is wrong with it? I have seen CNN do it in USA, and gave their results even before official results were announced. They simply said theirs wasn’t official results. This government is rotten and has run out of ideas. If they have no intentions of rigging the results, why are they so nervous? This brings mistrust and it will be difficult for many Zambians (except MMD cadres) to believe the outcome of the results. Instead of the government enhancing transparency, they are doing the opposite.
The NGOs in Zambia are not credible and independent. Any reasonable person can not entrust them with compiling election results. They would make a fake announcement that PF has won when infact they have lost just out of frutsration. In all operations, there should be unity of command. You can not have two bodies(authorities) in a single job. It leads to confusion. In Ivory Coast, the incumbant was declared winner by the courts whilst the opposition by the electoral commission. Besides, we have a law that guides us and we should follow it. Do not listen to the americans, they are the first ones to evacuate their nationals when there is war. So whether there is war in zambia or not, this american does not care because he will safely leave anyway.
Very interesting; now the American envoy iz “meddling”?
hahahaha. Ba MMD, Ninshi muletina? And which law is against PVT? Shikapwasha, there you go again telling lies as if you are not pastor. PVT is the way, it is clean and who ever is credible will approve it.
Maybe MMD knows that with PVT they will fail to rig….
No chance on this one BIG NOSE. Whether Rupiah likes it or not they will be a Parallel Voter Register this year. All we want is to have real figures reflected at the end of the day in this democracy of ours. The PVT is not about Rupiah or anybody, but for real democracy to prevail in our motherland
For Chifire, this is the monkey who didn’t have 9pin for browsing the Internet at @Cafe at Longecreas on monday and had to borrow from his fellow I’diot Mumbi. The monkey doesn’t seem to have a ligitimate office space for his MMD sponsored out of the pocket club. To hell with you Lazy bum. Get a life and start a real Job
1,,,,,,,,,,,most NGO have included in their proposals to donors(PVT). SACCORD and the like are more concerned with making money forthemselves from donors than the actual PVT.
Oh sorry I forgot Chifire can’t get a real Job. The moneky failed countless times until declared untrainable at CBU. Wapya munzeeeee. No more bull crap shakafuswa, we want real democracy to prevail in this land
I think the govt needs to explain properly to people what PVT is.There is as usual alot of emotionalism and sensationalism on this topic.
General Shikapwasha or Pande said nothing about Katumbi’s remarks about opposition parties in Zambia. This is being unprincipled.
The MMD will do anything even killing to stay in power Col Panji said well i believe this crooked govt we do just that to perpetuate theft .People of Zambia lets demand for 50 plus one and an independent Electoral commission with no links to state house. We should be vigilante after we cast our votes by not leaving the polling station until results are announced so that there is no vote stealing or stuffed boxes arriving later on after voting has taken place
I say “NO” to PVT. In conformity with transparency, it must be made mandatory that all parties participating in the election must have appointed representatives at all polling stations. An open invitation must be accorded to all other agencies to be present at all polling stations if they so choose to be there and be part of the monitoring team. Each polling station must generate verifiable count of the votes cast by the electorate. This count must be authenticated by the party appointed representatives and other agency representatives. We got to move forward on this one. Yes, let’s have no outside interference on this one. We can handle our own affairs such as this one.
You will not be allowed to rig this year. big nose and your god bwezani you will not manage.
Ba MMD are you in step with what is happening in the Arab World. What is happening there will happen next in all African Countries where there are signs of dictatorial tendancies. Zambia is one of those countries unfortunately. We as a country we are a shame to the eyes of the archtects of democracy. How do we call ourselves democratic when we cant stand competition and transparency in terms of election results. Remember the super powers who control this world always follow what the citizens say. If Zambians say we want the PVT so be it and they will support it.
MY APPEAL TO ALL PROGRESSIVE LOVING ZAMBIANS IS THAT LETS SUPPORT THE PVT. IF IT MEANS DEMOS THEN BE IT. AFTER ALL THAT IS WHAT THESE DICS UNDERSTAND BETTER.
#2 For your information it is the USA that has been supporting the likes of Mubarak in Egypt for the past thirty years. They have been supporting Zenawi and his dubious record in Ethiopia so your assertion that the USA wants clean politics in Africa is rather suspect. We will not allow NGOs that are partisan to be the ones to sit in judgement. Who are they accountable to and where do they receive their mandate? What formula will be used to select the NGOs who will be involved in the pvt? Simply declaring yourself as civil society does not give you the moral high ground. It is interesting to to question the motives of the NGOs in question. Do they realise that Sata can not win and are therefore trying to rig the elections in his favour?
i have no problem if government will do the same with Katumbi
If one were to look at some of these civil society organisations and the way they are run, one would find that many of them are hardly democratic or transparent and yet they want to be the judge and jury on an election without a mandate. Who elected SACCORD and gave them the authority to to determine the future of the country – some right-wing think tank which would rather see Sata destroy the country so as to stop China from accessing our copper? Some of you people would cut off your nose to spite your face.
MMD, are scared that with PVT, the will not have the chance to Mr. Mwanga to rig the election. Damn MMD scared of unknown, be open-minded and also use other modern methods. Why should we depend on ECZ alone?
THE VERY FACT THAT THE GOVT IS JITTERY ABOUT PVT SHOULD BE AN EYE OPENER TO THE OPPOSITION. THE QUESTION IS WHY IS GOVT WORRIED ABOUT PVT???????…..LET’S LEAVE NO STONE UNTURNED THIS YEAR………NOBODY SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO RIG THIS ELECTION……WE HAVE BEEN CHEATED BEFORE AND WE HAVE NOW WISED UP!!…….MR RIGGER, YOUR TIME IS UP!!!!!!!!!!!!……….NI DON’T KUBEBA MAYO!!!!!!!!!!!
There is nothing like being scared or jittery by the goverment here.have foresight people.The NGOs are loud in this issue because they will be handsomely funded by the donors.They want to cheat people that they have their interests at heart.please lets all be on the look out.Do not talk for them.they will benefit millions of dolars alone.Please comment maturely and objectively.
Well Storella made a direct pledge to the Senate about what he intended to do while in Zambia and that’s what he is doing–fighting fo the people. USA fosters democracy so good luck fighting them.
And if you want to see what Storella said to the Senate you had better read this: http://foreign.senate.gov/imo/media/doc/7%2013%20Storella%20final%20testimony.pdf
Fellas, dont console yourselves that the opposition has lost elections out of rigging in the past. What is rigging? There is no fraud in elections but just bad loosers in the opposition. I witnessed the counting of votes in Kabwata in 2008. All party representatives were there before opening the ballot boxes and during counting until they assented to a certificate. They also got a copy of those certficates. If the ECZ announces anything different from what was signed for then there is rigging. Otherwise the ECZ announces results assented for by party reps and hence no rigging goes on. Dont make it look like an election process is something out of this world and VJ as anything special just to justify your election losses. Americans will be evacuated if war breaks out. Dont listen to them.
Yes let CNN and BBC and El Jezeera have their exit polls running live on T.V.
This will make MMD accountable in the next elections.
No VJ Rigger.
Which channel shall we use to complain against Katanga governor KATUMBI for meddling in our affairs.We saw him on Zambia Non.s.e.n.s.e Broad Casting Corrupted (ZNBC).
PVT is the only way to have transparent, free and fair elections in Zambia.
Will Shikapwasha and his minions charge us with abrogating diplomatic efficacy if WE, THE PEOPLE, also decide to complain through diplomatic channels over Katumbi’s utterances and meddling in our internal affairs? When it suits them, no diplomatic efficacy is broken, but when it doesn’t, they are the first ones to stand on roof tops chanting ‘diplomatic efficacy has been broken’.!!! Shame on these double-faced, self-praising ‘leaders’ of Zambia. Ba Rev… my foot!!!!!!
What abut the Kasai, Moses Chapwe Katumbi, are you going to condemn for telling Zambians that the opposition in Zambia has nothing to offer? What about the War torn Serbia Ambassador’s insults against the Zambian people who support the oppostion parties, are you going to complain? #21 The NGO are good for you as long as they insult Sata. If they point out a wrong against the MMD, then they bad. Please analyse issues.
Does the US have a PVT? If the ECZ can’t be relied on then get rid of it and create a reliable body to run elections.If the arguement for having a PVT is because the ECZ can’t be trusted then are we going to have another PVT to make it 3 when others start complaining of the 2nd PVT as lacking credibility?My advice to our govt is that let people air their views on the PVT because the right to free expression should not be curtailed.Let people know also that the right to free expression does not include the right to be taken serious.Govt can equally use the same right to free expression to express their disagreements with the pro-PVT supporters.Moreover,the right to free speech doesn’t provide an escape from consequences of our actions.Those who abrogate the law should face the law.
PVT is the only way to have transparent, free and fair elections in Zambia.**==
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande, YOU KABWA, please go ahead with the complaint against the innocent His Excellence Mark Storella, USA Ambassador to Zambia!
The United States Ambassador to Zambia has not done anything wrong, what wrong did he do against you MMD thugs Pande?
The Ambassador is advocating for fair justice by pushing for the parallel vote tabulation (PVT) system, which President Banda’s relative at Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the MMD have rejected.
God bless the United States Ambassador to Zambia His Excellence Mark Storella. USA please help us against this MMD thugs, who are dictators and does not listen to ordinary Zambians.
If it was an MMD minister talking to the POST he would have been fired. Thank God it is the Ambassador
Rupiah…
Continued……
Foreign Affairs Minister Kabinga Pande please do not mess up with the USA, you will ask for too much by unfairly complaining against His Excellence the Ambassador, otherwise Tunisia type of revolution will come upon you MMD kaponyas.
For goodness sake, you MMD thugs, why are you so stubborn that you can not listen to clear advise?
When the USA says something listen, they have the most advanced intelligence gathering technology and knows what they are talking about! They know what is going on in Zambia right now.
And knows where President Banda has stashed his money, his corruption in the MMD and his brutality.
The USA have been instrumental in stabilising Zambia’s democracy and encouraging more investors coming to Zambia.
You only get advise if it is in…
Well spoken diplomat. As MMD government continue to steal and eat US money, the diplomat has every right to make comments. RB needs help or advise from credible people not crones hunging around him and misleading him.
Continued..
This is what i said before, that President Banda and his brutal MMD will soon run out of ideas in dealing with the POST (shame on the MMD how in this generation do you regard a newspaper as HOSTILE as if it is in the 1960,70’s?).
It was the POST’s Zambian Airways, Finance Bank of Zambia (all these were made bankrupt by President Banda’s machinery just because they assisted the POST newspaper) and all the MMD ministers who have been fired just because they gave interviews to the POST newspaper, which is regarded as hostile media by President Band and the MMD.
I said what will happen if the USA embassy in Zambia assist the POST newspaper, is President Banda going to nationalise the embassy? This is what should make the USA see that President Banda is a dictator and…
Why should we listen to hypocrites like Chifire and Mumbi?
Let Government complaint about comments made by Katanga Governor too!Double standards indeed!
Katumbi is not a diplomat accreditted to Zambia so the comparison with him and Storella is rather dubious. If we are going to have pvt then which organisation should conduct it and on what basis will the organisation in question be selected? Why should it be SACCORD and not another organisation? What are the qualities that make SACCORD morally superior to ECZ or any other organisation including the one I run and control financially? Can organisations such as SACCORD claim to be independent? If they are not, then why should I agree to them monitoring the elections? I might as well let PF cadres do all the counting, tallying and declaring of votes – hell no!
very welcome move indeed. we do not want foreign interference in our internal affairs. whilst you are it please complain about Mr Moise Katumbi the rich bastard from Katanga Province who insulted your opposition leaders. imagine a governor insulting presidents such as Sir Micheal Chilufya Sata. awe chamupamba mwe.
If SACCORD want to be seen to be fair and not want to bring chaos to the country, then why dont they suggest that organisation such as themselves and those aligned to the ruling party conduct the pvt exercise in tandem? Surely that is the only way we can move forward, otherwise you might as well let the very credible pf shadow cabinet with the likes of Nsanda and Kambwili do the counting themselves. If the opposition insist on this issue, we will also make sure that we have our own pvt system. Sata has tried to get into state house on the back of UPND and failed. Now he is trying to use civil society as his horse as if there would be any civil society and freedom of expression of any description if he assumed the presidency.
Dear Mr. Ndola District representative Mr. Victor Koni, it’s sad a person like you who has been MP twice has no idea on what is wrong with our current Electrol laws. The whole process is wrong no wonder your part keeps winning Elections dubiously.
Come this years Elections MMD has to go.
Corcened Ndola resident!!
What meddling! That is no sense! You want to rule people like u a in one part state(Kaunda). Why did we chase Kaunda if we wanted to be ruled a stone age laws.If your laws are bad change them why do you keep on having a constitutional reveal every other year from 1964. This is information age, get lost stone age!!!!
PVT is the only way forward…viva the people of zambia. Let us not let these Movement For Mad Dogs (MMD) take us for granted
rb wat democracy do u kn to question storella? u dull chaps pvt is taking up ecz’s wrk…its marely providing checks and balances…this yr mwanga taitambe….mwanya ba mmd this wil wrk or ka egypt shani
Just a few days ago, Moses Katumbi castigated the Opposition In Zambia in the presence of RB at Kasumbalesa Border Post on the Zambian Side and called upon people of Zambia to vote for RB. Since it suited the MMD, they havent complained BUT when it hurts or offends them, they are quick to cry under diplomatic etiquete.
In this election, let Katele bring his computers as well.Viva mother Zambia.
If the US ambassador continues to meddle into our internal affairs, refer him to mununga. He will see miracles he has never seen in life such a small rain forming and rains only at his house, then lightening strikes. Do it when he away from home.
AS LONGS AS WE NEED COOPERATING PARTNERS,NO FOREIGN INTERFERENCE IS WELCOMED IN ZAMBIA. LET ZAMBIANS DEAL WITH ITS OWN ISSUES AND THIS US DIPLOMAT DEAL WITH SAME SEX MARRIAGES IN USA. WE DONT COMMENT ON THEIR ISSUES, Ambassador Mark Storella,LEARN TO TUCK IN YOUR YELLOW TEETH! SHAT-UP IWE MUZUNGU
All those thinking USA has PVT you are mistaken , they are simply projectiosn that they carry on TV and not actual tabulation, what nonsense is that??? if MMd were rigging, why has the opposition continued to win bye elections? The Pact just disbanded and when MMD wins you say rigging? wake up Zambians, the US has been advocating for legalization of gay marriage, ask Storella if all states in the US have it legailzed? dont just yap because an American ambassador has spoken, follow what is good for the safety of your country. Let the opposition campaign and if people really want change, it shall come.
But Katanga province Governor spoke openly to give a vote to RB.Why hasn’t MMD complained about maidling in internal affairs? When it suits you, its ok but when it is against you ,it is wrong.Africa twasebana
It appears some people here still regard americans to be in a better position to tell zambians what is better for their country(zambia) than the zambians themselves! Perhaps we should just advocate for recolonization except this time around let’s be colonized by the americans.Storella’s opinion over the PVT is not in any way superior to Mpande’s simply because he is the american diplomat.
BIG NOSE JST SHUT UP,…WHEN KATUMBI WAS TALKING ABT ZAMBIAN OPPOSITION PARTIES U NEVER OPENED YO NOSE OOOH SORY MOUTH …YOU HAVE EVEN GONE TO AN EXTENT OF USING CONGO DRC RADIO TO DECAMPAIGN SATA….DONT BE S. T .U P. I .D YOU GUYS. DONT THINK WE ARE DOCILE……UBUPUBA BWA IYI GVT, WILL COZ TROUBLE IN THIS COUNTRY
I have never liked american involvement in any world issue but i must say that this is the best stance the have taken so far for this country. They have seen something wrong in the government of the day hence the move. Zambia, we are being told has had only one free and fare election and that was the 1991 which saw the MMD come into power and since then, no fare and free elections have been held. I hope you fearless Zambian in the country will stand up and say no to this government………………………….
Zambians, let us pause and think. What will happen to our country if two results are announced, one result by ECZ and a different result by Kabanda, Habasonda, Frank Bwalya and Mucheleka. If you trust the Americans, let them appoint the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia, rather than have two authorities. No matter how much you hate Rupiah Banda he is a lot better than having another Ivory Coast in Zambia. Please let Frank Bwalya be Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, it amounts to the same thing.
MMD are frightened of what the public think of them!!!! Lets have fair and just elections.
Americans are only after their American interests. Period. They supported, Ben Ali in Tunisia for 25 years. They supported Mubarack for 30 years. They are still supporting Museveni now going for 30 years. What has Rupiah done wrong in two years. What is wrong with a Christian country which they oppose? Why are they supporting homosexiality. I say to you, not everything from the mouth of an American is honey. Storelli, to hell with your rented NGOs.
And while I am still blogging, can some body please tell me what democracy is in Bonney Tembo’s AVAP. And he has the chick to lecture Zambians as long as Storelli rents his personal to holder NGO.
Americans may love putting out fires everywhere, but can you please start the fire elsewhere.
Shikapwasha should launch a military attack on the US instead of farting around and wasting our time.
Americans will do anything in their interest. Zambians dont be hoodwinked to think that the US cares about the well being of our people. This is the same country that allowed Mobutu to plunder his country indiscriminately and looked the other way when Mubarak was abusing his own people and not letting the country experience free and fair elections. In fact the Americans used to take terrorist suspects to Egypt for torture so what can they tell us about democracy? In the US, state legislatures can and have passed laws that remove the right to vote for certain individuals, an action which has disproportionately disenfranchised African Americans. I dont think the US is in a position to be lecturing us on how we should conduct our elections.
useless americans now they have come for zambia God help us because they are good at creating confusion in africa
Leave the blacks alone man. They are used to suffering.
#52 ask bloggers if u dnt understand wat pvt means than actin like shika…pvt means getin results as they ar announced in various centers by ecz and not announcin…this is not takin the role of ecz but will jst station a system which will be talling results country wide as they ar announced. if ecz is slow to announce the overall result there is no arm by someone announcing elections which have been announce at the center coz now thats ecz issu of not having a fast system
How about leaving africa alone. stop that aid and let them to rot.
…former PF secretary general Edward Mumbi urged Zambians to insist…
LT who and what is Mumbi role in Zambian politics? Looks like he is one of the most credible source of information in this paper.
Imwe ba LT you are boring with you support for MMD, no wonder your background is blue, color for movemenf for mad dogs! U will nevet stop to amaze me the way you report your news! You mean the only source that you can “cut and past” storis is only from goverment papers!??? Always and everyday!
I know the websites from these papers and we can read these stories from them, inshort you just keep spreading the propagada for MMD, you will get what you want! Read the comments and report them back to those who send you to do a survey!
Chifire go back and re-sit your exams that you lamentably failed at CBU,no easy road to money my friend just re-sit then get a better job otherwise there is no pension in what u do,as soon your Bwezi…goes out you will need that education you have neglected, your lecturers here on the copperbelt always talk of how dull you used to be in in school, sad to look at you in salaula t-shirts. VIVA PVT… VIVA STORELLA
With the hounding of Florence Mumba from ECZ, I suspect the MMD camp is trying to cook the electtion results!! Viva PVT