Press Statement Justice Munalula Lisimba (RTD) Chairperson Zambia Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence on the remaining work of the CIVPEV

PRESS STATEMENT BY JUSTICE MUNALULA LISIMBA (RTD) CHAIRPERSON OF THE COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO VOTING PATTERNS AND ELECTORAL VIOLENCE  ON THE REMAINING WORK OF THE COMMISSION

The Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence is in receipt of Statutory Instrument No. 60 of 2018 in which His Excellency Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia, in exercise of the powers contained in section 3 of the Inquiries Act, has extended the mandate of the Commission to 31^st December, 2018 to finish its work.

Prior to this extension, the Commission had by 30^th June, 2018, covered eight (8) out of the country’s 10 provinces to receive submissions from the people, as mandated.  These are Copperbelt, North-Western, Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Eastern, Western, Southern and parts of Lusaka Province. The list of the districts where the Commission held public sittings in each of the said provinces is attached hereto.

The Commission had by the said date, also started the technical process of analysing, collating and compiling the submissions received in the eight provinces covered so far.

Way forward

Following the extension of its mandate, the Commission is now embarking on the final phase of its work as follows:

• Public sittings in the remaining two provinces namely Central and Lusaka provinces;
• Special sittings for key stakeholders;
• Analysis, collation and compilation of submissions from Central and Lusaka provinces and from the special sittings;
• Drafting of the Report;
• And finally, submission of the Report to His Excellency the President by 31^st December, 2018, as mandated.

Public Sittings

Ladies and Gentlemen,

I now wish to announce, in detail,  the programme for the Commission’s public sittings in Lusaka and Central Provinces as follows:

LUSAKA PROVINCE PROVINCE

Monday, 1^st October, 2018

District:           Chirundu

Venue:           Mthunzi  lodge

Wednesday, 3^rd October,

Commission will split into two groups for public sittings, simultaneously,  in Luangwa and Rufunsa at the following venues:

Luangwa:      Council Chamber

Rufunsa:         St. Augustine hall

Friday, 5^th October, 2018

District:           Chilanga

Venue:           Intulo lodge

Monday, 8^th October, 2018

District:                       Lusaka

Constituency:           Kanyama

Venue:                       St. Daniel Camboni Social Development Centre

Tuesday, 9^th October

Commission will split into two groups for public sittings in Mandevu and Munali Constituences, simultaneously, at the following venues:

Mandevu Constituency:    Olympa Africa hall

Munali Constituency:          Mtendere Catholic Parish hall

Wednesday, 10^th October

Commission will hold parallel public sittings in Kabwata and Chawama Constituencies at the following venues:

Kabwata Constituency:     Kabwata community hall

Chawama Constituency:   venue is Blue Water motel

Thursday, 11^th and Friday, 12^th October

Commission has specially reserved these two days for the Founding Fathers and Mothers and other senior citizens of  our great country. This is in a bid to tap into their experience, knowledge and wisdom in our collective search, as a nation,  for a lasting solution to electoral violence and divisive voting patterns we have witnessed in recent elections,  which,  if not nipped in the bud, have potential to derail the peace and unity we have, and continue to enjoy,  and for which Zambia is renowned world-over.

CENTRAL PROVINCE

 

Monday, 15^th October

District:           Serenje

Venue:           Villa Mbandi

 

Tuesday, 16^th October

Commission will hold parallel sittings in Kabwe and Kapirimposhi in Central Province at the following venues:

 

Kabwe:                      Civic Centre

Kapirimposhi:                        Council lodge

 

 

Friday, 19^th October

District:           Itezhitezhi

Venue:           Catholic hall

 

22^nd to 26^th October

The Commission has set aside this period for individuals, institutions and other stakeholders who may have been cited for alleged wrong doing by some petitioners during the Commission’s public sittings around the country.

The sittings are meant to afford such individuals or institutions an opportunity to respond to the allegations so that the Commission has a balanced view on the allegations as it prepares the Report.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

In conclusion, I wish to stress that we are ONE ZAMBIA ONE NATION – a national umbilical cord that has bound us together since independence over half a century ago.

Nothing should ever divide us – not politics, not tribe, not region.

I, therefore take this opportunity to call upon people in the districts where the Commission is due to hold public sittings to come forward and make submissions on how, together, as a nation, we can eliminate, once and for all,  the electoral violence and voting  patterns in building a peaceful, united and prosperous Zambia, for ourselves and generations to come.

I thank you.

Justice Munalula Lisimba (RTD)

CHAIRPERSON

COMMISSION OF INQUIRY INTO VOTING PATTERNS AND ELECTORAL VIOLENCE

 Wednesday, 26^th September, 2018

 

PRESIDENT LUNGU NAMES INQUIRY INTO 2016 ELECTORAL VIOLENCE
Wednesday 21st October 2016

His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia has appointed a Commission of Inquiry to examine the causes of the political violence before and after the 11TH August, 2016 general elections.
President Lungu made named the Inquiry in accordance with the Inquiries Act.

Those appointed to the Commission are:
1. Mr. Justice Munalula Lisimba (Chairperson);
2. Mrs. Marvis Kasongo Chisanga (Vice-Chairperson);
3. Mr. Nzovwa Mwela Chomba (Secretary);
4. Mr. Mike Mulabe (Deputy-Secretary)
5. Fr. Lastone Lupupa
6. Mr. Charles Kafunda
7. Mr. Lee Habasonda
8. Mr. Reuben Lifuka
9. Dr. M.C.Bwalya
10. Mrs. Maureen Siamulele Tresha
11. Prof. Owen Sichone
12. Mr. Redson Nyanga
13. Ms. Flora K. Mooya
14. His. Royal Highness Senior Chief Ntambo and
15. Mr. Wilfred Chilufya

The Commission of Inquiry will also inquire into the voting patters between 2006 and 2016 and
the root causes of these patterns. The Inquiry will also examine to what extent the pre-election political violence could have influenced the voting patterns in the 11th August 2016 general elections.

Among other matters, the Inquiry will the role of political parties, traditional rulers, and the media in shaping voting patterns and instigation of violence among others.

The Commission has been tasked to submit its report to the President within 120 days from the date of appointment.

Issued by:  AMOS CHANDA SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT (PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS)