By NAKUBIANA SHABONGO –

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has described the campaigns for the coming by-elections in Mangango as peaceful.

ECZ public relations manager, Cris Akufuna said the campaigns have been generally peaceful but warned participating political parties to desist from using strong language against each other during the run up to the August 19 by-election.

Without specifying, Mr Akufuna said in an interview that some issues had been raised through the ECZ complaints and management commission and that they were being dealt with administratively.

“From what we are getting from people on the ground, the campaigns have been largely peaceful but our message to the political parties is for them to be tolerant to each other and desist from using strong language,” he said.

He also warned that the Commission would deal with all those found flouting the Electoral code of conduct.

Mr Akufuna said when the commission was briefing political parties, it always urged those with issues arising from by-elections or the electoral process, to raise their concerns through writing with the District Conflict Management Committee.

Two weeks ago, Patriotic Front (PF) campaign manager Obvious Mwaliteta was attacked by suspected United Party for National Development (UPND) sympathisers who accused him of using a Government vehicle during the campaigns.

The Central Province minister had the immobiliser of his vehicle seized by his assailants who allegedly got his money after pouncing on him in Kaoma on suspicion that he was changing the registration plates of a Mitsubishi Pajero from a Government registration to a private one./

A UPND cadre, Kingford Nasilele, who is also former Kaoma district commissioner in the MMD government, has been arrested over the incidence.

Last week, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) said it was disturbed with reports of violence and election malpractices during campaigns for the forthcoming Mangango by election.

The ECZ has set August 19, 2014 as the date for the Mangango parliamentary by-election.