ZAMBIA: Opposition PF calls out ECZ, threatens another round of lawsuits

By: Ollus Ndomu

The opposition Patriotic Front -PF- has called out the Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- over what the party has termed as ‘an abrogation of the constitution and gross contempt of court’.

In a lengthy statement issued Tuesday night following the electoral body’s announcement of new dates for contested by-elections in Kabushi and Kwacha constituencies, PF acting Secretary General Nickson Chilangwa accused the commission of working with the governing United Party for National Development -UPND-:

“Clearly ECZ is working on the instructions of the UPND to disenfranchise Hon Bowman Lusambo, Hon Joseph Malanji and the Patriotic Front from participating in the Kabushi and Kwacha by-elections.

“Zambians must brace themselves for a complete degeneration of Constitutionslim and the total breakdown of the rule of law as the UPND gets more and more desperate to resuscitate its fading popularity.”

According to Chilangwa, there are currently three court processes concerning the Kwacha and Kabushi by-elections, and his party feels the ECZ’s decision undermines the court’s authority thus the PF is dragging ECZ and its Commissioners in their individual capacities to court.

“We wish to inform our members and the nation at large, that the Patriotic Front has instructed its lawyers to commence appropriate legal action against ECZ including citing the ECZ commissioners for contempt of court in their individual capacities,” Chilangwa’s statement read in conclusion.