ZAMBIA: Christian Churches recommend the strengthening of Voter Education
The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG))
has recommended that voter education be intensified in all the civic centers in
the districts in order to make people understand the requirements as voters.
has recommended that voter education be intensified in all the civic centers in
the districts in order to make people understand the requirements as voters.
Presenting a Long Term Observation (LTO)) report
on the electoral landscape on Zambia on Thursday 18th February, 2016, CCMG
spokesperson Fr. Cleophas Lungu said that voter education is a priority given
that the period for registration has been reduced by a month.
on the electoral landscape on Zambia on Thursday 18th February, 2016, CCMG
spokesperson Fr. Cleophas Lungu said that voter education is a priority given
that the period for registration has been reduced by a month.
Fr Lungu urged political parties to take the
opportunity to encourage the public to come out in big numbers and register as
voters.
opportunity to encourage the public to come out in big numbers and register as
voters.
Fr. Lungu further recommended that voter education
should start right away for that there are new issues in the electoral process
due to the amendment of the constitution which people need to know them before
the exercise.
should start right away for that there are new issues in the electoral process
due to the amendment of the constitution which people need to know them before
the exercise.
CCMG has pleaded to the ECZ to safeguard the
electoral equipment/kits which in the past have been reported stolen from the
registration centres. CCMG stated that in order to avoid speculations and
malpractices in the electoral process, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)
should issue a statement to update the public about the equipment/kits that
were stolen during the mobile voter registration.
electoral equipment/kits which in the past have been reported stolen from the
registration centres. CCMG stated that in order to avoid speculations and
malpractices in the electoral process, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)
should issue a statement to update the public about the equipment/kits that
were stolen during the mobile voter registration.
Fr. Lungu said that having witnessed violence in
the period under review, CCMG is appealing to all political parties to refrain
from acts of violence including hate speech, physical violence and harassment
and declaring “no go zone areas” for some parties during campaigns; instead CCMG
wants all political parties to observe and abide with the rule of law.
the period under review, CCMG is appealing to all political parties to refrain
from acts of violence including hate speech, physical violence and harassment
and declaring “no go zone areas” for some parties during campaigns; instead CCMG
wants all political parties to observe and abide with the rule of law.
On another hand CCMG also recommends to the
Zambian Police Service to be professional in the execution of their duties and to
the media houses CCMG wants them to report issues credibly and accurately;
without fear or favour. “Media houses should be objectively to avoid
partisanship and bias in their news coverage,” he said.
Zambian Police Service to be professional in the execution of their duties and to
the media houses CCMG wants them to report issues credibly and accurately;
without fear or favour. “Media houses should be objectively to avoid
partisanship and bias in their news coverage,” he said.
The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) was
launched on 28th November 2014 to monitor the 20th January 2015 presidential
election. It is made up of four Faith-Based organizations. These are Council of
Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Jesuit Centre
for Theological Reflections (JCTR), and Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC)
through Caritas Zambia.
launched on 28th November 2014 to monitor the 20th January 2015 presidential
election. It is made up of four Faith-Based organizations. These are Council of
Churches in Zambia (CCZ), Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), Jesuit Centre
for Theological Reflections (JCTR), and Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC)
through Caritas Zambia.
By Mwenya
Mukuka, Communications officer, ZEC
Mukuka, Communications officer, ZEC
