The GOVERNANCE, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services (GEARS) Initiative Zambia says it is delighted at the peaceful manner political parties conducted themselves during the nominations of their candidates on Tuesday, 14 August, 2017 ahead of the three district council chairpersons and eight ward by-elections to be held on 14 September, 2017.
GEARS Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi says electoral stakeholders should endeavor to promote a conducive electoral environment by practicing politics of respect and tolerance in Lavushimanda, Itezhi-Itezhi and Kanchibiya districts and also in the eight wards by-elections.
In a statement, Mr Chipenzi says his organisation is however in receipt of an incident of violence involving a district commissioner and UPND cadres in Itezhi-Itezhi District of Central Province which happened on Wednesday, 15 August, 2017, a day after peaceful nomination.
He stated that this isolated incident of electoral violence ahead of the Itezhi-Itezhi District Council Chairperson by-election is most regrettable and should remind all those involved that the Itezhi-Itezhi seat was nullified before on account of violence that happened during the 2016 General Elections.
Mr Chipenzi charged that It is also surprising how a civil servant, in the name of a district commissioner, got entangled in political activities which are supposed to be a game of active political practitioners.
The alleged involvement of the Itezhi-Itezhi District Commission in transporting ruling party cadres to the scene of violence is uncalled for and must be condemned in the strongest term possible.
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