ECZ Cancel By-Elections to Save Democracy The Zambian judiciary has acceded to the wishes of Patriotic Front Secretary General Wynter Kabimba by blocking the nomination of former Petauke Central Member of Parliament Dora Siliya. Barely 24 hours before the nomination for the four by-elections across the country were held Judiciary Public Relations Officer Terry Musonda issued a statement that regurgitated what Kabimba said when he admonished the Electoral Commission of Zambia for stating the Siliya and UPND Malambo parliamentary asipring candidate Maxwell Mwale could not recontest their seats because they were nullified. Consequently the Electoral Commission of Zambia that had given a go ahead for the nominations to go ahead after saying the law allowed Siliya and Mwale to contest was forced to cancel the elections in Malambo, Petauke Central and Mulobezi. The ECZ had to act swiftly following move by the judiciary to ambush them. The Judiciary issued a statement that where there has been allegations of corruption the High Court had to deliver a report to the ECZ. Curiously the statement issued by Musonda said the Supreme Court was not obliged to deliver the report and blanketedly stated that once the judgment had been delivered then it was binding on all without being delivered to the ECZ. After the disastrous showing in the last round of by-elections where they won only one out of a possible four, the PF has now decided to play it safe eliminating all strong candidates with Siliya and Mwale being strong threats to their candidates in the next round of elections. zambiareports/2013/08/09/ecz-cancel-by-elections-to-save-democracy/
Posted on: Fri, 09 Aug 2013 15:45:29 +0000