By CHARLES SIMENGWA –
OPPOSITION Democratic Assembly (DA) president Maxwell Mwamba has appealed to candidates in the January 20, 2015 presidential by-election to be realistic in their promises to the Zambian people.
Mr Mwamba, who has declared his support for Patriotic Front (PF) president Edgar Lungu, said in Ndola yesterday that some opposition leaders were canvassing for votes through promises they could not fulfill if they ascended to the high office of Republican President.
He said it was important for all the candidates to uphold the dignity of the electoral process by being realistic in the promises they made to the people.
Mr Mwamba said this when he addressed his supporters in Chifubu Township where he urged them to vote for Mr Lungu in the upcoming polls.
He said the DA felt motivated to campaign for Mr Lungu because of his demonstrable maturity and humility.
Mr Mwamba said Mr Lungu had avoided grandstanding and had instead stuck to the vision of the PF to deliver developmental projects.
“How can anyone believe some of the things some candidates are promising when we only have a little more than a year before the 2016 general elections?” he asked.
The opposition leader, who has declared his intention to contest the 2016 polls, said if the DA was voted into power, it would initiate and facilitate the autonomy of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), and give it authority to reprimand and suspend any political party
from participating in an election on the basis of electoral corruption.
He said instigating violence and failure to comply with the Electoral Code of Conduct and to disclose sources of funding should compel the ECZ to institute punitive measures.
“We will enact appropriate legislation to empower the ECZ to penalise and impose fines, and also to be given judicial authority to preside over electoral disputes.
“We will also make sure that the supervising and appointing authority will be Parliament,” Mr Mwamba said.
He said the current scenario had reduced the ECZ to being mere spectators, with no administrative authority to enforce compliance of the electoral rules.
The DA leader said the 2015 presidential by-election campaigns were being conducted under a climate of rancour and malicious innuendos which do not provide an even playing ground.
Mr Mwamba said Zambians should not be swayed into voting for candidates who may not hold the country together, but instead pander to the wishes of their followers only.