WE agree with the Democratic Governance and Human Rights Advocacy (DEGHA) which has rightly observed that sending political party representatives to monitor the printing of ballot papers for the August 11 general elections should remove any aorta of suspicions of rigging.
Once more, President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government have demonstrated that the PF is a democratic party that values democracy.
Thus we feel the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should be hailed for showing high levels of transparency and accountability in holding free and fair elections in this country.
Despite the uncalled-for accusations levelled against the commission, Zambians should be made to understand that this is the same organisation that conducted elections which saw the fourth president Rupiah Banda step down for the late Michael Sata.
If the Commission was compromised and politicised, it could have misconducted itself to allow Mr Banda remain in power fraudulently.
But nay, Mr Banda graciously stepped down after election results were announced by the ECZ, which has always held free and fair elections in the past without any confusion.
We thus feel this year’s elections are not different.
We know ECZ critics are likening Zambia to other African countries where rigging is rife.
This comparison is uncalled-for considering that since the ushering in of plural politics in Zambia, the country has witnessed removal ofpresidents through the ballot, that is through peaceful transitions.
Apart from the third Republican president Levy Mwanawasa and Mr Sata who both who died in office, the other leaders like Kenneth Kaunda, Mr Banda and Frederick Chiluba were removed through the ballot or other democratic processes.
Why then is the opposition, especially the United Party for National Development (UPND), scared that the ruling party will rig these elections?
We feel the fear is emanating from the realisation that the ruling party is headed for another victory.
However, we feel both parties should sign an agreement during the first week of August to accept whatever outcome since there is abundant transparency and accountability from the Government.
We don’t want a few party members to drag the nation into senseless waffling and charges of elections not being free and fair.
It seems in Africa, elections are only free and fair when results favour certain individuals who always criminalise poll results when they lose.
The song of rigging that we hear every time there are elections has been influenced by what happens in some African countries where the phrase ‘transparency and accountability’ is alien.
However, the song of rigging is usually mouthed by losing candidates as was seen in the recent Tanzanian elections when the losing Ukawa coalition presidential candidate Edward Lowassa accused the electoral body of falsifying tallies that saw him rejecting the results which gave victory to his rival John Magufuli of CCM.
It is also a known fact that elections in most African countries are a tortuous affair that hinders development of true democracy since some selfish people consider political office as a cash cow.
As a result, there is hardly an election where accusations of foul play or rigging are not heard since to some people feel politics gives them an opportunity to fuel their selfish ambitions.
In this area, President Lungu has proved that he is above such cheap politics that has characterised governance, especially during elections.
The mere fact that he has allowed sending of political party representatives to monitor the printing of ballot papers is a manifestation of high levels of political maturity.
In other countries, this is unheard of since leaders are notorious for electoral malpractices that include disruption of rallies by the police, denial of permission to assemble at the last minute, frustrating opposition programmes by not allowing them breathing space to organise, and criminalising their political activities.
Other practices are intensifying political gangsterism when polling day is nigh, and using legitimate instruments of coercion like the police to terrorise opposition figures and supporters to create a sense of insecurity and fear to drive away real and potential voters.
The opposition in Zambia has been allowed to operate freely, a right that it has sometimes abused.
As things stand we want both international and local monitors to compel the major political parties to sign an agreement to accept the election results on August 11.
Failure to do this should compel the police and other relevant bodies to effect the Public Order Act (that beautiful regulation) to the fullest to ensure Zambia does not go to the dogs or dogs are allowed to come to Zambia.