JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA (ADV) – Today the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) met Hakainde Hichilema, the leader of the opposition party, the United Party for National Development (UPND) to discuss the future of the country’s elections.
In the past Hichilema has always fought with ECZ accusing them of being biased towards the ruling Patriotic Front (PF).
During the meeting Hachilema cautioned the ECZ not cause strife in the country by making life threatening decisions and being part of disrespecting the will of the people before, during and after elections.
Addressing the press shortly after a closed door meeting held between him and the ECZ at the election house in Lusaka today, Hichilema stated that the Electoral body ensure transparent, free, fair and credible elections.
“We held a meeting with the Electoral Commission of Zambia officials and reminded them to be impartial and hold elections in a manner that does not subdue our country’s democracy,” he said.
“We also advised the Electoral body not to allow the PF’s continued intimidation on our Sesheke parliamentary candidate Romeo Kang’ombe. We told the ECZ officials that elections must be a source of pride and joy for our people to choose leaders of their choice who can deliver development as opposed to the violence and hate speech we are seeing in our country.”
Hachilema further suggested that citizens have lost confidence in the Electoral body hence the need for it to ensure that elections are not made a source of bloodshed.
Hichilema also believes that the ECZ must not be an accomplice to the Patriotic Front Party in destroying Zambia’s democracy.
“We only have one country and we will not allow anyone including the electoral body to destroy it through decisions aimed at enabling only them and a few others living luxurious lives when majority Zambians are suffering. Zambia deserves better and this is why we say for us it’s Zambia and Zambians first,” added Hichilema.
© Bur-JHB – B.M / M.C – African Daily Voice (ADV) – Follow us on Twitter : @ADVinfo_eng
