• Political parties need to understand that the Covid-19 era is the new normal.
• They need to have a mechanism on which they have to devise their campaigns.
• Parties should bear in mind the health guidelines even as they begin to hold their party conventions.

Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has echoed calls by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for political parties in the country to come up with alternative ways of holding political rallies amidst the Covid-19 pandemic.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Organization Executive Director Richwell Mulwani said political parties need to understand that the Covid-19 era is the new normal and they need to have a mechanism on which they have to devise their campaigns.
Mr Mulwani has also advised political parties to bear in mind the health guidelines even as they begin to hold their party conventions.
“This is a topical issue, and this is why as AVAP we have also agree that new methods need to be devised by political parties as they map up their campaigns and convention’s,” he said.
He stated that it is disheartening that despite the pandemic, some parties are holding a meeting disregarding the set health guidelines, a situation he says is frustrating government’s fight against Covid-19.
“Covid-19 has come and will be living with it, so political parties need to have a mechanism under which they can devise the campaigns,” Mr Mulwani said.
Last month the Commission announced that it has developed guidelines to enhance the adherence of the health guidelines which encourages political parties and other stakeholders to use appropriate campaign strategies such as mobile public address system, distribution of flyers and other political party materials with minimal or no contact with a crowd.
And Commissioner Chief Electoral Officer Patrick Nshindano says for the polls, the Commission will adhere to the required public health guidelines such as sanitizing, wearing of face masks and physical distancing as the electorate cast their votes.