By 
The Non-governmental Gender Organisations’ Coordinating Council (NGOCC) says it is deeply concerned by the threatened cancellation of the registration of the Patriotic Front (PF) party by the Registrar of Societies.
NGOCC Board Chairperson, Grace Sinkamba, is urging the former ruling party to urgently address the compliance issues raised so as to ensure the party remains a legal entity in the interest of the country’s democracy.
Sinkamba said Zambia’s Constitution, which states that “we are a democratic and multi-party State, recognizes the important role of political parties in the governance of the country”.
She said in a statement issued on Wednesday in Lusaka that the important role of political parties in the country’s democratic governance system cannot be over-emphasised.
“It is against this background that we remain concerned with the threatened cancelation of the registration of the Patriotic Front as it would negate the democratic gains made by the country, Sinkamba said.
She said that while recognizing the legitimate role of the Registrar of Societies to promote compliance of Societies, it is NGOCC’s considered view that this must not be to the detriment of the country’s democracy as espoused in the Republican Constitution.
Sinkamba said that it is NGOCC’s hope that all political parties, including the governing party, the United Party for National Development (UPND), are compliant with the provisions of the Societies Act.
“State institutions such as the Registrar of Societies should be more concerned about deepening the country’s democratic culture,” she said.
Sinkamba advised the Registrar to instead be supporting Societies, including the PF to ensure that they are compliant in the best interest of democracy and good governance.
The office of the Registrar of Societies has threatened to deregister PF following its failure to comply with the order to avail a full and complete list of officer bearers.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments