Kabimba rubbishes rigging claims

By SILUMESI MALUMO and CHARLES MUSONDA RAINBOW Party leader, Wynter Kabimba, has dismissed claims by some opposition political parties that this year’s elections will be rigged. Mr Kabimba said the claims were baseless because the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had always been conducting elections in a professional manner. He said that even the international community regarded the ECZ as a credible institution in the Southern African region. Mr Kabimba said the ECZ has never manipulated elections’ results and therefore such claims were baseless and unfounded. “ECZ has progressively improved on the procedures of the electoral system.  When they introduced posting of results at polling stations that was a major development in the electoral system because every political agent is able to see them. “So those saying that ECZ will manipulate the elections’ results are lying. When you lose elections just accept,” he said. Mr Kabimba said some people might not accept but those were the facts. Meanwhile, Mr Kabimba said Zambians should maintain peace as the country was heading towards elections. He said Zambians should play a pivotal role to guarantee peace during elections.  “Upholding peace is not just for the police but all citizens need to participate.”