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The Citizens First (CF) Party has written to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) seeking clarification on the existence of the Elections Advisory Body (EAB), describing it as an illegal structure within the Commission.
Party President, Harry Kalaba, had since threatened that failure to clarify on the issue would result in nation wide protest because such an action further reduced the commission’s credibility.
Giving the contents of the letter at a media briefing in Lusaka on Wednesday, Kalaba said the Commission should explain the role of the Elections Advisory Body and how members of such a structure were identified.
In the letter, Kalaba demanded to know under which law the body was established, who nominated the members and why key stakeholders were not consulted especially political parties on its formation.
“While the law is explicit and unambiguous, we find it inconceivable that one would elect to appoint an Electoral Advisory Body with clear intentions to compromise the independence, professionalism and integrity of the ECZ,” he said.
Kalaba said such actions were akin to setting the process for disputed elections considering that the Commission was now being subjected to the oversight of an illegally constituted body in the so called Elections Advisory Body.
He said such illegal actions paint a clear motive of plunging the nation into a constitutional malaise.
“In view of the above, we are of the firm view that the actions taken to set up the said Electoral Advisory Body is a breach of the Republican constitution and is tantamount to usurping the mandate of the ECZ,” Kalaba said.
He said the CF would not stand by and watch these machinations that are intended to lay the groundwork for disputed elections simply because the United Party for National Development (UPND) government was fast losing its popularity.
Kalaba demanded that the action be rescinded and if no immediate remedy was taken, the party would have no choice but to call for a nationwide protest action to compel the Commission to follow the law by which it was established.
“It is our well founded view that such illegalities do not add to the credibility of an institution that is already viewed as being highly compromised and polarized,” he said.
Kalaba also expressed concern over the Commissions failure to hire the Chief Electoral Officer following the resignation of Patrick Nshindano in August, 2022.
“We trust you appreciate the significance of the role of Chief Electoral Officer and your failure to replace this key position a year down the line is cause for concern as it may affect the level of preparedness of the Commission for the 2026 General Elections,” he said.
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