By STEVEN ZANDE –
THE Commission of Inquiry on Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence yesterday heard that claims of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) rigging elections in the country is a myth which has been created by politicians who don’t have confidence in public institutions.
Assemblies of God Fellowship overseer pastor Charles Mwape also recommended that Government should consider introducing a Constitutional requirement for a political party to amass one thousand votes in six provinces for them to win an election in order to address regional voting.
Pastor Mwape, 45, of Lusaka who represented the church said it was difficult to rig an election in Zambia because the electoral system was transparent with political party and stakeholder representation at every stage of the process.
“The issue of rigging elections in Zambia is a myth, our political leaders should bring back confidence in public institutions.
“This will require leaders to move around in these provinces, speak to the people and be accepted. This will help us curb regional voting,” Pastor Mwape said.
He was speaking when he appeared to testify before the Commission hearings in the Nakatindi Hall at the Civic Centre in Lusaka yesterday.
Pastor Mwape said the outcome of the 2016 polls and the appointment of the Commission by President Edgar Lungu was an opportunity for the country to address the critical challenge of political violence.
He appealed to traditional leaders to promote unity in the country by working together with counterpart chiefdoms to foster unity among diverse ethnic groups.
Aaron Muyumu, 66 a retired civil servant said there was need for Zambians in all parts of the country to ensure they accepted everyone despite their ethnic background.
Mr Muyumu narrated before the commission how in the night, prior to the August 11 general elections, unknown people scribbled offensive graffiti outside his house in Kamwala area due to his tribal origins.
Poor People’s Party (PPP) president Alex Mulyokela ,53, whose comments elicited laughter from the audience said the elections could only be free if the ECZ scrapped off nomination fees for all elective positions.
And Lusaka based business executive Lawrence Mulenga, 55, submitted that the Commission was important and should be used as a vehicle to curb political violence which threatened to disturb Zambia’s unity and peace.
“Reconciliation is important now so that this problem does not escalate beyond ethnic challenges into full blown divisions,” Mr Mulenga said.