Electoral commission of Zambia (ECZ) Director of Elections Priscilla Isaacs has threatened to quit her job if the current political atmosphere in the country does not change in the run up to the 2016 general elections. Speaking at the summit on political violence in Lusaka yesterday Ms. Isaacs said she is contemplating quitting her position due to the non adherence to the electoral code of conduct by political parties. Ms. Isaacs said she has been accused of belonging to certain parties for trying to do the right thing and that there is too much political violence making it difficult for her institution to do their job effectively. “I think if we continue in the same way we are going I will quit my position before the 2016 elections. This job is difficult as it is and its just that I’m a strong woman that is how I have been able to survive in this job. “I have been battered and accused of belonging to PF, MMD, UPND for being on the side of the law and it is too much,” she said. And Ms. Isaacs says the ruling party has greater responsibility in curtailing political violence. She said the party in government should endeavour to abide by the electoral code of conduct and ensure that they do not use government resources as well as call on civil servants to stay away from political campaigns. She said as long as senior government officials and civil servants continue to participate in campaigns issues of political violence will always be there. She noted that if the party in government avoided engaging in electoral malpractice then cases of electoral violence will drastically reduce because the opposition political parties will take a leaf from the ruling party. Meanwhile Ms. Isaacs said there is need for the ECZ to be given more powers to punish political parties which does not abide by the electoral code of conduct. She explained that as long as the ECZ continues to operate in its current form which limits its powers then nothing much will change and that the commission needs to be given appropriate powers to punish political parties violating the electoral code of conduct. She said it is imperative that the ECZ be given the powers that it needs to deal political parties that abrogate electoral laws which would allow for the commission to disallow offenders from taking part in the election. Related News: Political parties free to conduct their campaigns-ECZ “For God’s sake we are not printing raffle tickets..” Ms Isaacs
Posted on: Thu, 28 Aug 2014 09:49:23 +0000
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