MMD writes to ECZ to complain against PF

30/01/2014

20130319_100111_MMD cadres sing outside DEC offices — MMD cadres sing outside DEC offices

The opposition Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) has written to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to complain over alleged premature campaigns and misuse of government vehicles by the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) ahead of the Katuba Parliamentary by-election slated for February 28.

In a letter dated January 29, 2014 addressed to ECZ Director Priscilla Isaacs and disclosed to Qfm news, MMD Deputy National Secretary Cheembe Nyangu says his party’s compliant is view of the fact that the ruling PF has allegedly not stopped engaging in unfair practices in the electoral process.

Mr. Nyangu notes that so far his party’s leadership in Katuba constituency has already reported to the party’s secretariat in Lusaka that vice president Guy Scott flew to the constituency to allegedly meet the area Chieftainess for political reasons.

Mr. Nyangu says Ministers that include Defense Minister Edgar Lungu, Commerce Minister Emmanuel Chenda and Central province Minister Obvious Mwaliteta also went to Katuba to allegedly conduct political campaigns ahead of the nominations.

The MMD Deputy National Secretary further notes that on the nomination day itself a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) helicopter flew to Mwanjuni School where it was packed for alleged political reasons because the vice president Dr. Scott is also said to have not even used it.

He has charged that for this incident the Air commander of the said ZAF helicopter must explain to the MMD through the ECZ as to why he authorized the chopper to go to Mwanjuni School on the nomination day of the by-election.

He adds that many government vehicles were also seen and identified at Mwanjuni School and that for this too the MMD requests that the ECZ finds out what the vehicles identified as GRZ 101 CE and GRZ 551 CE were doing at the nomination center on Tuesday the 28th of January 2014.

And Mr. Nyangu has charged that the foregoing are malpractices in the electoral process which his party the MMD cannot stomach and tolerate.

He says the PF violated the electoral rules and laws which his party worked so hard to put in place, rules which says all stakeholders and political players are expected to follow and that this duty of obedience is more-so on the leadership of the ruling party.