ECZ URGED TO PULL UP SOCKS

By NOEL IYOMBWAThe number of petitions after the August 12 elections is a wake up call for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to pull up its socks, former minister George Mpombo has said. Dr Mpombo explained that high number of petitions should be a wake up call for the commission to embolden the credibility of its functions. He observed that the increase in petition cases in the courts of law for both parliamentary and local government in 2021 is alarming. “The overwhelming number of petitions this year should be a wake up call to the ECZ to pull up its socks to embolden the credibility of its functions as a commission,” Dr Mpombo said. Meanwhile Dr Mpombo noted that during 2021 general elections, politics in Zambia were heavily monetized to the point that substance took second place.He said that constituencies were flooded with money and other distractions.“Politics in Zambia are now heavily monetized to the point that substance takes second place as constituencies are flooded with money and other distractions as seen during this year’s elections,” he said. The former diplomat and minister during the MMD regime said that parliament is now looked at as a veritable source of lucrative income by leaders rather than the desire to serve the people.Dr Mpombo further said that tribal and ethnic jingoism also reared its ugly head during elections, robbing the nation of fair and balanced elections.