By ANDREW MUKOMA
PROJECT Support Learners Zambia (PSLZ) in Livingstone has welcomed President Hakainde Hichilema’s call for the electoral reforms.
District Coordinator Nyambe Mutete has observed that the country’s electoral laws needs to be reformed in order to have an independent and inclusive appointed Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) commissioners.
Mr Mutete charged that this should be done for purposes of impartiality.
“To us as Project Support Learners Zambia(PSLZ) in Livingstone, every held election in the past are very important because they provide unique lessons to be learnt. They also provide an opportunity for citizens of having chosen their representatives who should speak and decide on their behalf. Since elections give citizens an opportunity to review on the performance of their leaders,” he said.
He said in a statement made available to the Daily Nation that electoral reforms are key to democracy.
“It is our view that the pending issues such as decentralization of ECZ, continuous voter registration as mandated by our constitution, allowing citizens in the diaspora to vote and giving more powers to the commission to automatically disqualify erring candidates that don’t abide by the electoral code of conduct to deter abuse of the same, shall all be considered in order for us to have an electoral peaceful environment that will grant legitimacy.
“We have also noted with concern of people who are propagating tribalism and regionalism which is regrettable and can cause serious divisions in our country if not handled well.
The motto of one Zambia one nation which was coined by our fore fathers shall slowly be diminishing and become just a mere rhetoric and loose meaning,” he said
Mr Mutete said that his organization has noted the pledge to uphold democracy, rule of law and good governance of the new dawn administration.
NGO welcomes call for electoral reforms
