The Human Rights Commission (HRC) has reminded the Zambian media of the mammoth task it has to perform ahead of the forthcoming general elections this year.

HRC Chief Investigations and Legal Services Officer Kims Banda said part of the task is ensuring that the free will of the people prevails in the 2021 elections.

Mr. Banda said this when he welcomed participants to a review and validation media workshop organized by the Human Rights Commission.

The workshop also looked at the election monitoring tool on the administration of the Public Order Act (POA) in Kabwe today.

He said the media must report fairly, accurately and provide credible information to guarantee the free will of the people in an election.

“We feel the media has a critical role not only to monitor the free will of the people but to also report fairly and accurately of credible information,” he said.

Mr. Banda said it was the commission’s wish that the government provides security to those that genuinely seek the freedom of assembly.

He added that the HRC is also concerned that the media personnel have been victims of violence during election campaigns.

Mr. Banda has meanwhile reiterated that an election is a human rights issue which is enshrined in international and regional statutes.

He stated that Article 21 of the constitution stipulates that, “the free will of the people is the basis for the authority of any government.

“Those who preside over the affairs of the country only do so on the free will of the people. This entails people voting freely and in lateral sense,” he stated.

About 500 students from eleven higher learning institutions have endorsed President Edgar Lungu ahead of August 12 general elections and have since established a coalition called Students Coalition for Lungu 2021.

The institutions are, the University of Zambia, Eden University, National Institute of Public Administration, Evelyn Hone College of Applied Arts and Commerce, UNICHOS, University of Lusaka and Chalimbana university. Others are Zambia Centre for Accountancy, Zambia Open University, Levy Mwanawansa university and Cavendish university.

Meanwhie Lusaka Province Minister Bowman Lusambo snubbed the National Students Forum on Party Manifesto where President Lungu was endorsed.

Speaking on behalf of the students, Zambia National Students Union president Steven Kanyakula says students in their resolutions today they have carefully scrutinized and compared the manifesto of the Patriotic Front as regards to education to manifestos of other political parties, they were convinced that the PF and President Lungu need another mandate to govern he nation.

He says the manifesto shows the PF wants to ensure no one is left behind. Mr Kanyakula said students appreciate the investment that President Lungu has made towards education.

“As a student at Levy Mwanawasa University and indeed many other students, we can attest to the tough decisions the President and his predecessor has had to make towards building our infrastructure in education.

He said it was gratifying to note that President Lungu, through the 2021 to 2026 PF manifesto, is promising to expand the student loan scheme to include private universities and we want to categorically state that he has our full support in this endeavor,” he says.

“So today May 11, 2021, we do hereby resolve to support the Patriotic Front manifesto on education and do hereby endorse the candidature of President Edgar Chagwa Lungu ahead of 2021 elections.

Lusaka, May 12, ZANIS—The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has discouraged all political parties and participating candidates in the August 12 elections against holding campaign rallies.

ECZ Director for Electoral Operations Royd Katongo said during a stakeholders meeting in Lusaka today that rallies are part of super spreaders for COVID-19 as they attract huge crowds.

He advised that political parties and candidates should use other available alternative medium of communication and information dissemination.

“Activities such as rallies are super spreaders. We advise all political parties to do away with rallies because they attract huge crowds. They should instead use alternative means such as zoom, TV, radio and public address systems,” he said.

And Mr Katongo has urged media organisations to ensure fair coverage of all political parties and candidates during the period of campaigns.

He said campaigns for the August 12 general elections will commence tomorrow on May13 and will end on August 11, 2021.

The ECZ Director of Electoral Operations further advised political parties and candidates to conduct all their campaign activities with strict observance of the COVID-19 five golden rules and to also include COVID-19 awareness messages in their campaign.

“Stakeholders in the electoral process including political parties must take full responsibility for what will transpire as a result of failure to adhere to the guidelines recommended by the Technical Committee. The Commission, Ministry of Health and respective agencies should not be blamed in case of any eventualities,” Mr. Katongo stated.

And Assistant Director Health Promotions at the Ministry of Health Kalangwa Kalangwa noted that COVID-19 guidelines are still in effect before, during and after elections.

Dr. Kalangwa urged political parties to respect the rule of law as they embark on their campaign trial and further appealed to the media to include COVID- 19 messages as they disseminate political information.

An electoral officer in Chama district has implored politicians from different political parties as well as all well-meaning Zambians to strictly adhere to the electoral code of conduct issued by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

Chama District Electoral Officer in Muchinga province, John Sampa, made the call during the ECZ stakeholders’ election briefing in the district at the weekend.

The briefly mainly centered on educating those who are aspiring for various positions in the August 12, 2021 general election on the electoral process and conduct.

The political parties that attended the briefing included the ruling Patriotic Front (PF), opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), Socialist Party (SP), Movement for Democratic Party (MDC) and the Democratic Party (DP).

Mr. Sampa said the briefing will greatly help in clearing out certain concerns regarding the electoral process and enable stakeholders to make informed decisions.

“We are holding this briefing today so that all the participating political parties and their respective candidates are made aware of the requirements so that they prepare before,” he said.

And Mr. Sampa has reiterated that ECZ is an independent and autonomous institution mandated to hold free, fair and peaceful elections in Zambia.

He said this is why the commission always engages all political players on various issues concerning the electoral processes.

Mr. Sampa added that the ECZ has a legal mandate to perform constitutional and statutory functions with a range of responsibilities that include delimitation exercise, voter registration exercise, voter education, nominations as well as preparing for elections and administering various other elections.

And Chama South Returning Officer Rodgers Kumwenda, who closed the briefing on behalf of Mr. Sampa, said those who are aspiring for different positions and those who are re-contesting should abide by what was discussed in the briefing on the electoral process.

Mr. Kumwenda pointed out that issues of basic requirements and qualifications, as well as reporting time for filing in of nominations should be strictly adhered to.

“We are appealing to all the aspiring candidates to strictly adhere to the ECZ guidelines and requirements,” he said.

Meanwhile, political parties wishing to take part in the August 12 general election have commended the ECZ for guiding them on nominations before the process starts.

The political parties expressed happiness with the ECZ for organising such a briefing on the electoral process especially on the nomination process which they said will help them to make right decisions.

Nominations in the August 12 general election start with presidential and parliamentary candidates on May 17, followed by mayoral and council chairperson nomination on May 18 and lastly ward councillors on May 19.

The Food Reserve Agency (FRA) is projecting to buy over 30,400 metric tonnes of maize in Mbala district this year.

Mbala District Commissioner, Maybin Chibalange disclosed this when he officiated at the FRA crop marketing training workshop for the 2021 crop marketing season.

ZANIS reports that Mr. Chibalange has since challenged depot clerks who will be engaged in the exercise to encourage farmers to sell their maize to the FRA.

He said the officers should employ best marketing practices that would convince people to sell their maize to the agency and help the district to achieve the set target.

“You need to be humble and be welcoming when serving the members of the community without discrimination,” he said.

Mr. Chibalange has also advised depot clerks to avoid any form of corruption and other bad vices in their work.

“Ensure that the principle of ‘first come, first serve is applied at all the times,” he advised.

The Mbala District Commissioner further encouraged the trainees to have a good dress code as they will be attending to the general public.

Mr. Chibalange noted that after training, the depot clerks will be like public officers who will be representing the interest of the government.