ECZ URGED TO ONLY DISQUALIFY PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATES ON GENUINE TECHNICALITIES
Governance expert, Guess Nyirenda, has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure that no presidential candidate is disqualified on unnecessary technicalities.
26 aspiring presidential candidates have expressed interest in contesting the upcoming August general elections, with the commission expected to begin the vetting process to ensure that all aspirants meet the constitutional and legal requirements ahead of the polls.
Speaking when he featured on Christian Voices Chatback Programme in Lusaka today, Mr. Nyirenda said the Commission must ensure that any candidate removed from the race is disqualified strictly on the basis of failure to meet the set requirements and not due to political influence.
Mr. Nyirenda said that for example, political party presidents should not be barred from contesting the presidency merely because they may have unresolved issues with the Registrar’s office, warning that such actions could be perceived as attempts by the ruling party to block opponents from participating in the elections.
He stated that while many people may want the number of presidential aspirants reduced, there is need to ensure that those who fall out of the race do so on legitimate grounds.
Mr. Nyirenda has since urged the commission to remain impartial and resist being influenced by government during the vetting process.
Angel Kasabo
RCV
What amounts to genuine technicalities is already guided in our constitution.
Just get in line.
Or go farming.
There are no exceptions. No special cases.
But the kind of English in the Head line. From what school of English
The qualifications for one to stand for Elections are very clear…They don’t talk about Adoption Certificates signed by the President and Secretary General of a Political Party, appearing on the list recognized by the Registrar of Societies. The Electoral Act which empowers ECZ to conduct and manage Elections is equally silent on such .
Some of the Rules set by the Electoral Commission of Zambia are purely administrative, and in situations were these rules are in conflict with the Constitution of Zambia, they can be challenged.
The situation currently obtaining in Zambia is the Abuse of the office of the Registrar of Societies, and other institutions by the current government.
Zambia finds itself with Electoral Cowards… Serial losers of Elections who fear competition. They are resolved to restrict Competition, and compete only with themselves, or at the most with sponsored Paper Tigers.
Zambians however distaste this.
They want a fair Election on 13th August 2026. Hakainde Hichilema and his UPND are just digging their own graves by engaging in hopeless Imingalato. Candidates like Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu have now established a National following..It won’t be easy to remove them from the Ballot.
Many Zambians especially Independents will completely turn against Hakainde and his UPND if real competition is destroyed by useless Imingalato.
