Good morning country men and women. I would like to share with you the ZCID Ethics for Political Parties which all our member parties signed and committed themselves to as a standard against which they would measure their conduct during elections. Use this code to censure any political party conduct which notice to be going against these ethic. ZAMBIA CENTER FOR INTERPARTY DIALOGUE, ZCID Code of Ethics for Political Parties INTRODUCTION The political party officials regularly indulge in smear campaigns during political forums, events and public appearances, rather than sticking to the issues. One of the popular strategies used by all parties is to organize events that are designed to welcome political actors that have deserted one party and are joining another party. Defecting members are paraded before the media and made to denounce their former political parties. Such events offer opportunities for influencing public opinion in favour of parties; however, they have become forums for attack and counter attacks. Other popular methods include using youths to make negative statements about political opponents. Some of these targeted smear campaigns occasionally take serious negative personal attacks, which could lead to instigation of antagonism and spoil the national political sanitation. Often political campaigning in Zambia has tended to concentrate on ‘blunting’ an opponent’s chance of winning the election than to promote the sponsoring party or candidates own image or characteristics with their constituency. Hence, political party campaigns have not been based on issues but on negative attacks and counter attacks among political competitors. This situation has in the past resulted in serious confrontational behaviour which has undermined the spirit of fair competition. Political parties have been the greatest instigators of political violence and other undemocratic electoral behaviour during elections. Disagreements should be based on issues, and focused on political party or government policies and actions. If there are allegations of wrong doing by a political party it is better to use the style of instant rebuttal by the accused party without resorting to negativity. There is a need to create a political culture based on rolling debates between parties and candidates, as well as, political functionaries, responding to campaign issue positions in an interactive way. Democratic elections are about friendly rivalry not slander, bitterness, hate and instigation of violence. People want to hear about solutions to the various problems they face every day, not the antics and tit for tats among the political elite. At this stage, when the all important election is just a few months ahead, responsible leadership in all political parties should assert itself over the over-enthusiastic supporters to see that things are kept under control and the fair name of Zambia’s democratic record have that it has received over the years from all concerned does get tarnished in any way. CODE OF CONDUCT FOR POLITICAL PARTIES In order to respond to this gap, Senior Political Party Leaders met at Pamodzi Hotel in Lusaka in November, 2009 to among other things find a common strategy to tackle electoral violence and to make political parties accountable for the smooth conduct of election campaigns. In following up on this resolve ZCID sought the support of the cooperating partners in actualising this commitment. This document, therefore, is a reflection of the desires of the ZCID member Political Parties and constitutes the harmonised positions of the said parties over the matter. The following are the accepted principles that shall be applicable to the behaviour of political parties during elections in Zambia. 1 Application of the Code In this Code, “party” includes – (a) any entity that subscribed to this Code of Conduct, including political parties, independent candidates, alliances or coalitions of parties, and political movements other than parties; and (b) The leader, officials, candidates, members, agents, and representatives of any entity that subscribed to this Code of Conduct. 2 Principles of the Code (1) The legitimacy of a government chosen through a democratic multiparty election rests on these principles: (a) that as a result of being informed through the electoral campaign of the policies and qualities of all political parties and candidates, voters are able to make an informed choice; and (b) That voters are able to vote freely, without interference, fear, undue influence or bribery. (2) All parties, having accepted this Code of Conduct, commit themselves to these principles and undertake voluntarily and in good faith to adhere to the Code so that – (a) these principles will be upheld; (b) The elections will be recognised as expressing the credible free choice of the voters; and (c) The result of that choice will be respected by all. (3) In any matter relating to the election process, a party will conduct itself in conformity with the prescriptions set out below. 3 Compliance with the Code (1) A party that has subscribed to this Code – (a) is bound by the Code; (b) Will take decisive steps to prohibit leaders, officials, candidates and members from infringing the Code; (c) will take all reasonable steps to discourage any type of conduct by their supporters which would, if undertaken by a party official, candidate or member, be in breach of the Code; and (d) Will not abuse the right to complain about violations of the Code, nor make false, frivolous or vexatious complaints. (2) The leader of a party that has subscribed to this Code will issue directives to the party’s officials, candidates, members and supporters, requiring each of them to – (a) Observe the Code; and (b) Take all other necessary steps to ensure compliance. 15 4 Compliance with the law A party that has subscribed to this Code will adhere to existing election laws, rules and regulations. 5 Campaign management (1) A party that has subscribed to this Code will – (a) Respect the rights and freedoms of all other parties to campaign, and to disseminate their political ideas and principles without fear; (b) Conduct itself in a manner that respects the rights of other parties, and respects the rights of voters and other members of the community; (c) Respect the freedom of the press; (d) Use its good offices to seek to ensure reasonable freedom of access by all parties to all potential voters; and (e) Seek to ensure that potential voters wishing to participate in related political activities have freedom to do so. (2) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not – (a) Harass or obstruct journalists who are engaged in their professional activities; disrupt, destroy or frustrate the campaign efforts of any other party; (b) Prevent the distribution of handbills and leaflets, and the display of posters, of other parties and candidates; (c) Deface or destroy the posters of other parties and candidates; (d) Prevent any other party from holding rallies, meetings, marches or demonstrations; (e) Seek to prevent any person from attending the political rallies of another party; or (f) Permit its supporters to do anything prohibited by this section. 6 The Election Process (1) A party that has subscribed to this Code will – (a) Co-operate with election officials in order to ensure – (i) Peaceful and orderly polling, and (ii) Complete freedom for voters to exercise their franchise without being subjected to any annoyance or obstructions; (b) Ensure the safety and security of electoral officials before, during and after the polls; (c) Respect and co-operate with official or accredited election observers; and (d) Maintain and aid in maintaining the secrecy of the voting. (2) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not – (a) Procure votes by forcible occupation of polling stations or through illegal activities in the polling stations; (b) Interfere unjustifiably or in bad faith with the duties of election officials, disturb the process of casting or counting of votes; or (c) Falsely assert to voters that their votes will not be secret. 7 Accepting the outcome of a free and fair election A party that has subscribed to this Code will – (a) Accept the outcome of an election that has been certified; (b) Submit any grievance only to the relevant authority i.e. the Conflict Management Committee of the Electoral Commission of Zambia or the Courts of Law; and (c) Accept and comply with the final decisions of the dispute settlement agency. 6 Language (1) A party that has subscribed to this Code will – (a) Organize and conduct its election campaign in a manner that contributes towards a congenial and peaceful atmosphere during the campaign period, the polling, the counting, and the post-election period; and (b) Act with a sense of responsibility and dignity befitting its status. (2) Speakers at political rallies will avoid using language that – (a) is inflammatory, or defamatory; or (b) Threatens or incites violence in any form against any other person or group of persons. (3) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not issue, either officially or anonymously, pamphlets, newsletters or posters containing language or material that threatens or incites violence. 7 Symbols A party that has subscribed to this Code will not – (a) Imitate the symbols of another party; (b) Steal, disfigure or destroy political or campaign materials of another party; or (c) Permit its supporters to do anything prohibited by this section. 8 Intimidation and violence (1) A party that has subscribed to this Code accepts that intimidation, in any form, is unacceptable, and will – (a) Issue directives expressly forbidding its officials, candidates, members and supporters to intimidate any person at any time; (b) campaign against violence or threats of violence, and against any acts of vandalism or public disorder committed or threatened by their officials, candidates, members or supporters; and (c) Respect other persons and parties, and their property. (2) The leader of a party that has subscribed to this Code will instruct the party’s officials, candidates, members and supporters that no weapon of any kind, including any traditional weapon, may be brought to any political rally, meeting, march or other demonstration. (3) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not – (a) Engage in or permit any kind of violent activity to demonstrate party strength or to prove supremacy; (b) Cause damage to any public or private property; or (c) Permit its supporters to do anything prohibited by this section. 9 Abuse of position (1) A party that has subscribed to this Code will not – (a) abuse a position of power, privilege or influence for a political purpose, by offering a reward, threatening a penalty, or by any other means; or (b) Use official State, Provincial, Municipal or other public resources for campaign purposes. (2) In this section, “a position of power, privilege or influence” includes a position of parental, patriarchal, governmental, police, military or traditional authority. 10 Corrupt practices A party that has subscribed to this Code will not – (a) Coerce or offer monetary or other kinds of inducements to persons to vote for or against a particular party or candidate, or to abstain from voting; (b) Coerce or offer monetary or other kinds of inducements to persons to stand or not to stand as candidates, or to withdraw or not to withdraw their candidacies; or (c) Procure the support or assistance of any official or civil servant to promote or hinder the election of a candidate. 11 Continued Communications (1) A party that has subscribed to this Code will make every effort to maintain communications with other parties that have subscribed to this Code. (2)The Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue [ZCID] will function as a forum for discussion of issues of common concern during an electoral campaign. In Addition the ZCID will work in liaison with the Conflict Management Committee of the Electoral Commission of Zambia to resolve some of the conflicts that may arise in the electoral process before they escalate into violence. 12 Enforcement (1) This code of conduct is a voluntary commitment by political parties to adhere to universal principles of democratic procedures. Any political party that has subscribed to this code shall, undertake to collectively own up to these commitments. As such ZCID is mandated under this code to censure, expose, suspend or expel any member party that contravenes the principles agreed upon herein from participating in ZCID activities. In doing so ZCID will be guided by the principle of equality and dialogue among political parties.
Posted on: Mon, 15 Dec 2014 10:18:27 +0000
Trending Topics
Recently Viewed Topics
© 2015