Employ standard electoral procedures, Mundia Paul Hakoola prods Kakoma Kanganja
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Employ standard electoral procedures, Mundia Paul Hakoola prods Kakoma Kanganja
… Zambia needs free, fair and credible elections, pleads CLRI
By Derrick Sinjela
CONTINENTAL Leadership Research Institute (CLRI) Executive Director Mundia Paul Hakoola says Zambia is in dire need of electoral procedures to guide how stakeholders shall operate with barely 15 days before the Thursday 12th August 2021 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Election.
In a Wednesday 28th July 2021 Media Statement, Mr. Hakoola flashed a card in the face of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Mr. Kakoma Kanganja for a Monday 26th July 2021 Media Statement urging political parties to desist from distribution of face masks and sanitizers meant to protect individuals and communities from contracting Coronavirus (covid19).
As a good governance expert, Hakoola says the Zambia Police Service (ZPS) has a bigger burden of responsibility to ensure that the electoral process has clearly spelt out playing field that is fair.
“As we head toward the Thursday 12th August 2021 Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Government Election, the Zambia Police Service has a serious burden role guarantee fair play in the electoral process,” advised Hakoola.
Hakoola remains prayerful that the Zambia Police Service will create enough operating space for the ruling and opposition political parties.
The Continental Leadership Research Institute Executive Director says if the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) is going to distribute face masks and sanitizers, opposition political parties contesting the 2021 poll must be allowed to equally compliment the Ministry of Health (MoH) by actively sensitizing communities in Zambia.
“Our call as Continental Leadership Research Institute is for the police to have standard enforcement procedures as opposed to cherry picking how the law is being enforced. Let the Zambia Police Service enforce the law effectively and across board without favouring a particular party, so as to guarantee peaceful coexistence,” played Hakoola.
The Continental Leadership Research Institute Executive Director cited selective application of the law as one of the ingredients that fuels electoral and political violence as perceived or evident inclination or prejudice by law enforcement agencies.
“When institutions of governance are not seen to be enforcing the law equally, such selective application of the law usually leads to agitation by segregated people, that is why standard operating procedures are imperative, so that everyone will see to that the police are doing the correct thing as law enforcement agencies are not supposed to be seen to be employing procedures deemed to be favouring one group,” admonished Hakoola.
Hakoola says for Zambia to have free, fair and credible elections, it is imperative for a non-partisan approach by law enforcement agencies.
Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja in Luapula eleven days before the Thursday 17th August 2020 parliamentary By-Election occasion by the death of Mwansabombwe MP Rodgers Mwewa – Picture by Zambia Police Public Relations Unit (ZPPRU)
