ZAMBIA: Election body suspends political activities as ruling party loses ground

The Electoral Commission Zambia (ECZ) has suspended all political campaigns for the country’s two biggest parties, the ruling Patriotic Front -PF- and the main opposition United Party for National Development -UPND-.

In a Tuesday statement, ECZ suspended radio, television and roadshow campaigns for the PF and UPND in the capital, Lusaka including Namwala, Mpulungu and Nakonde Districts on grounds of the increasing clashes involving the two parties.

Commenting on the ban of political activities for the two leading groups, PF Secretary General, Davies Mwila described the ECZ decision as unconstitutional and an abuse of human rights including the freedom of assembly.

Meanwhile a source at ECZ said the election body is operating under great pressure from the PF adding that State House is concerned with the growing popularity of the UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema.

Zambia heads to the most anticipated August 12 polls amidst the skyrocketing cost living, unprecedented graduate unemployment, institutionalized corruption and abuse of the supreme law of the land.

Opposition youth Chairperson Gilbert Liswaniso said the party was not disturbed by the suspension adding that Zambians had already made up their minds to vote out the PF regime.