Dear Editor,
ARTICLE 60(b) of the Constitution of Zambia Amendment 2016 provides that a political party shall not engage in or encourage violence or intimidate its members, supporters, opponents or other persons.
The Electoral Code of Conduct prohibits political party members, supporters, opponents or other persons to engage in electoral violence during the campaign period.
Sections 110(1) and (2) empowers ECZ to enforce the Code of Conduct and disqualify a political party or candidate in breach of the Code.
The electoral violence that has led to the murder of two PF supporters, and injury to several others is a very serious electoral offence.
If it is proven by ECZ that the group that was involved in the heinous crimes are indeed UPND members or supporters, as has been alleged by the Police, then that conduct can lead to ECZ invoking Article 60(b) of the Constitution and Section 110(2) to disqualify UPND from participating in Kanyama Constituency elections.
This would entail disqualifying the UPND presidential candidate, parliamentary candidate, mayoral candidate, as well as all candidates standing as councillors in Kanyama Constituency elections.
This is particularly serious because PF and UPND were censured by ECZ in Lusaka, and had their campaigns suspended.
ECZ says it is investigating the matter Let’s see what happens.
PETER SINKAMBA.
