• Elections project is guided by the 7th NDP
• Holding of free and fair elections is a fundamental pillar of democracy.
• Zambia police service must exhibit the highest form of professionalism.
Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) Chapter has outlined its desire to implement a robust electoral strategy aimed at contributing to the promotion of political and electoral integrity through the reduction of electoral corruption and malpractices.
Speaking at the launch of the TI-Z 2021 Elections Project, Organization President Sampa Kalungu said the strategy is anchored on the chapter’s current strategic plan which seeks among other things to create demand for accountability and empowering action by supporting citizens and other stakeholders to promote transparency, accountability and integrity at different levels of Zambia’s governance structure.
“Today’s launch represents our desire and commitment to participate in this electoral process at different levels and builds on the lessons we have learnt from participation in previous elections over the last 20 years of our existence.”
“Our 2021 Elections project is also guided by the 7th National Development Plan (7NDP), which seeks to achieve a conducive governance environment, improved transparency and accountability, strengthened transparency and accountability mechanisms, and strengthened electoral processes and systems,” Mr. Kalungu said.
Mr. Kalungu urged all political stakeholders to play their respective roles in ensuring that this year’s political discourse is premised on a civilized exchange of ideas on how they can turn around the economic fortunes of the country for the benefits of all citizens.
He further reiterated the need for the Zambia Police Service to exhibit the highest form of professionalism when dealing with sensitive political matters.
“TI-Z wishes to call on all of us as civil society, politicians, government, the media, the private sector, the Electoral Commission of Zambia and citizens in general to play our part in contributing to the holding of free and fair elections on 12th August. We all have an obligation to contribute to our democratic ideals as a country and where we see these being threatened in any way, we should be brave enough to speak out.”
“We also reiterate our call for the Zambia Police Service to exhibit the highest form of professionalism, not just in terms of how they implement the Public Order Act but also how they generally conduct themselves particularly when dealing with sensitive political matters or indeed matters that have to do with the constitutionally guaranteed rights of citizens,” he added.
He said holding of free and fair elections is a fundamental pillar of democracy as it guarantees protection of voters’ choices and the integrity of the electoral process through eliminating electoral corruption, undue influence, and electoral malpractices in general.