HARRY Kalaba, the Citizens First president has raised pertinent issues which ought to be addressed to ensure that the country’s democracy is not undermined.
Mr Kalaba has questioned the logic to set up an elections advisory body that will supervise the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) during elections.
For a start, the ECZ, as most Zambians are aware is an independent body mandated by the constitution to oversee elections in the country – local government, parliamentary and presidential.
It therefore comes as a surprise that there will be another oversight institution to supervise an otherwise independent ECZ.
It raises obvious suspicions and that the ECZ is in danger of being hijacked.
No wonder Mr Kalaba says the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is putting in place a dark ploy to rig the 2026 general elections by appointing an Electoral Advisory Body (EAB), that he calls an illegally constituted apex advisory body, to supervise the ECZ during elections.
Mr Kalaba has said the Electoral Advisory Body is a UPND special purpose vehicle set up to drive the ruling party’s electoral agenda.
He said the decision to set up the EAB is a breach of the Republican constitution and was tantamount to usurping the mandate of the ECZ.
Mr Kalaba questioned the appointment of the advisory body and the functions it will play in overseeing ECZ which is a body established under the country’s constitution to manage the running of elections.
The ECZ, despite the many shortcomings cited in the past, has won the support of the citizens and political stakeholder as an organ that plays an important role in safeguarding the country’s democracy.
It has been able to deliver on its mandate of running successful general elections as seen through the peaceful changes the country has gone through with peaceful transitions from one political party to another.
We agree with Mr Kalaba that Government need not be reminded that the ECZ is a constitutionally independent body and that according to the constitution under part 18 services, commissions and other such independent offices are supposed to operate autonomously.
He cited section 216 which states: “A commission shall be subject only to the Constitution and the law, be independent and not be subject to the control of a person or an authority in the performance of its functions, act with dignity, professionalism, propriety and integrity, be non-partisan and be impartial in the exercise of its authority.”
Said Mr Kalaba: “While the law is explicit and unambiguous, we find it inconceivable that one would elect to appoint an Electoral Advisory Body with clear intentions to compromise the independence, professionalism and integrity of the ECZ,” he said.
We join Mr Kalaba in seeking clarity from the ECZ on the establishment of the advisory body and its functions.
The CF has since written to the ECZ seeking an explanation as under which law the Elections Advisory Body has been established, what its role is, how its members have been identified, who nominated them and why key stakeholders, especially political parties, were not consulted on its formation.
Elections are a contentious undertaking and when stakeholders are not taken in confidence, they end up being a sham stage managed by the political party in government.
The integrity of the ECZ is at stake and it is only fair that citizens are told when such important decisions are made.
