WE should seriously consider the prospect of establishing a separate governmental watchdog designed to monitor the activities of officers of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the conduct of all elections for public office in the country.
Such a watchdog can hopefully lessen the perceived vulnerability of the ECZ and the electoral process to the influences, manipulation, and machinations of unscrupulous politicians and political parties.
Suggestively, the watchdog should be referred to as the Electoral Complaints Authority of Zambia (ECAZ)
The ECAZ should assume some of the functions of ECZ stipulated in Article 91 of the 2010 Draft Constitution.
Article 83 of the 2012 Draft Constitution and Article 261 of the current draft constitution should also be expanded to include some of the specific functions of the ECZ stipulated in Article 91 of the Draft Constitution.
These functions should be designated as a separate Article in the envisaged Republican constitution and should be paraphrased.
The ECAZ should consider and determine all issues and matters of malpractices relating to the ECZ and/or its officers occurring before, during and after elections or referenda.
It should also determine all electoral disputes and issues of malpractices, occurring before or during an election, within twenty-four hours of receiving a complaint with regard to the dispute or malpractice and would have the discretion to make an order –
(a) Prohibiting a person or political party from doing any act proscribed by or under an Act of Parliament;
(b) Excluding a person or any agent of a person or any candidate or agent of a political party from entering a polling station;
(c) Reducing or increasing the number of votes cast in favour of a candidate after a recount;
(d) Disqualifying the candidature of any person;
(e) That the votes cast at a particular polling station do not tally in whole or in part;
(f) For filing a complaint and making a report to a court or tribunal handling any electoral petition; or
(g) Cancelling an election or election result and calling for a fresh election, where the electoral malpractice is of a nature that would affect the final electoral results.
(3) A decision of the “Electoral Complaints Authority of Zambia” on any matter referred to in Clause (2) will be final only for purposes of proceeding with the elections.
(4) Any complaints connected to an election that will be raised after an election will be dealt with under an election petition by an electoral tribunal.
Henry Kyambalesa
Academic City and County and Denver in the State of Colorado,
United States of America (USA)

Lungu’s presidency, Biblical parallels

WHO would have ever imagined a few months ago that Edgar Lungu would be the next president?
His victory is indeed confirmation of what the bible says, ‘I knew you when you were in your mother’s womb.’
God indeed allows leaders to be there for a particular purpose, a thing we human beings may find hard to understand.
President Lungu’s ascendance to presidency was indeed not smooth but everything that happened was for a purpose to prepare him for this demanding job.
Now that Mr Lungu is President, he would be swarmed by people with different motives, some good and others bad.
Some people would want to tell him what he wants to hear while others would tell him what he does not want to hear.
However, my prayer is that, for every decision, he should let the guiding principle be that of what value an ordinary citizen who will not have a chance in their life to meet him in person and explain their problems to him.Wishing you God’s guidance and wisdom in your dutie.s
Collins Mambwe,
1B Nyakaseya-Lulamba,
CHINGOLA

Cancerous tribal talk

I WISH to join other Zambians in expressing my personal views regarding tribal sentiments being perpetuated by certain sections of society.
Tribalism is a cancer that should be fought relentlessly. Zambia deserves better and therefore all Zambians should condemn in the strongest terms any person or organisation that seeks to encourage such views.
Zambia is a mature democracy and as Nelson Mandela once ably put it “It does not matter whether the cat is white or black as long as it can catch mice”.
Zambia is a cosmopolitan Nation that has a mixture of tribes and ethnic diversity.
Being Zambian should be the only qualification one needs to aspire for the highest office in the Land and nothing else.
I appeal to Zambians to elect whoever they opt for regardless of the tribe, colour or religious affiliation provided they have the potential to move this country forward.
Victor Chimuka,
Ndola

Look into Kitwe Council  plots?

I AM appealing to President Edgar Lungu to look at the way the Kitwe City Council is selling plots.
Surely, why should small plots cost over K20, 000, Can a poor man afford?
Where is the Land tribunal report?
Alfred Chileya,
Kitwe