A consortium of seven civil society organization will conduct a Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT) exercise for the Livingstone by-election as part of its preparations to adopt the process for future polls in the country as a way of promoting a free and fair atmosphere.
MacDonald Chipenzi, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) executive director, said the seven CSOs which include Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) will send a delegation of seven representative from Lusaka to link up with about 60 of its field workers in Livingstone for the exercise.
Chipenzi, who spoke on behalf of the seven CSOs, said the consortium is also encouraging Livingstone resident to participate in the March 14 delayed by-election to select its representative. The election was postponed from February 28 due to escalating violence between political parties leading to the death of a PF official Henry Chanda who was murdered by his own members.
He urged Livingstone residents not to shun the vote but demonstrate their ability to chose a capable legislator and that the CSOs combined role in the area was to ensure the poll was free and fair.
Chipenzi advised Livingstone residents not to be influenced by bribes or stay away from
the poll as a result of threats.
He dispelled the notion that development can only be delivered in Livingstone if a member of the ruling party was elected to parliament.
Chipenzi also said the consortium of CSOs was saddened by the rampant abuse of resources by the ruling Patriotic Front in the campaigns.
He challenged the government to state how Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba, who is also PF Secretary General, was using a chopper for campaigns in Livingstonbe.
Chipenzi said the PF should explain whether Kabimba used personal or party resources as only the President or his Deputy was mandated by the Electoral Code of Conduct to use government transport during such operations.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced in a statement that the political environment in Livingstone is ideal for Thursday’s election.
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