By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –

PARLIAMENT has challenged the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) to give clear reform solutions to the electoral process to enhance its transparency rather than just issuing proposals.
The Parliamentary Committee on Legal Affairs, Governance, Human Rights, Gender matters and Child Affairs chaired by MMD Mwandi Member of Parliament Michael Kaingu said FODEP should give clear solutions when suggesting on the autonomy of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
“You should be clear on what should be done when proposing how ECZ should be autonomous, how we can transform the Commission, you don’t seem to come up with mechanism but just make proposals,” Dr Kaingu said.
Dr Kaingu questioned FODEP executive director Macdonald Chipenzi after he made a presentation to the Committee on conflict management in the electoral process in Zambia.
The autonomy of the ECZ was among the proposals that Mr Chipenzi gave as one way of minimising conflicts in the electoral process.
He also suggested that the ECZ Act should be transformed in such a way that the President-elect is not sworn in until the election disputes have been resolved.
Mr Kaingu asked Mr Chipenzi how the foundation expected Government to run in the event that ECZ puts on hold the swearing in of the President elect.
“Supposing the dispute resolution takes long, say four years, how would Government operate?’ he asked.
Mr Chipenzi said the foundation made a number of suggestions that have led to the reforms in the Electoral process.
He cited the proposals that facilitated the 2002 electoral process reforms in which Government came up with a Bill which was presented in Parliament but some of the recommendations were never included.
Mr Chipenzi suggested that the establishment of a constitutional court would be effective in the process of disposing of election disputes which seem to take long to be determined by the Supreme court.
Mr Chipenzi also suggested that the Chief Justice should no longer be the returning officer during the
Presidential election and that the role should be played the ECZ chairperson.