UPND DEMANDS LEVEL PLAYING FIELD

By SANFROSSA MANYINDA THE United Party for National Development (UPND) has called for a level playing field in the 2021 general elections. UPND Copperbelt spokesperson, Lawrence Mwanza, said the party would not accept any calculated manouvers to stop opposition political parties from holding rallies. He also called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to prevail over the ruling party to stop interfering in the Electoral process. Mr Mwanza said there was no law which prevented any political party from holding political meetings or gatherings. “We are concerned with the unwarranted pronouncements being made by President Edgar Lungu regarding the holding of campaign rallies by political parties in readiness for the August 12 polls. “We demand for a level playing field so that all participating political parties can be given an opportunity to explain to the voters what they intend to do once voted into government,” he said. Mr Mwanza said it was important for the PF Government to realise that Zambia was a democratic State where freedom of assembly had been guaranteed in the constitution. He said the pronouncement was not made in good faith but to disadvantage the opposition political parties from campaigning freely. Mr Mwanza alleged that the pronouncement was further meant to influence the police to be stopping political parties from holding rallies which he said was a departure from the principles of democracy. PLEASE TAKE PART IN THE POLL BELOW! Do you think stiffer punishments should be welcomed for poachers? Live Ended Yes I Do 100% 1 / 1 No I Don't 0% 0 / 1 Via WP Poll & Voting System Do you believe, the responsibility to protect the country’s pristine ecosystems and the wildlife they host rests on all of us? Live Ended Yes I Do 100% 1 / 1 No I Don't 0% 0 / 1 Via WP Poll & Voting System Do you believe the illegal wildlife trade negatively impacts our local communities and nation at large? (as poaching cartels rob us of our natural resources and cultural heritage). Live Ended Yes I Do 100% 1 / 1 No I Don't 0% 0 / 1 Via WP Poll & Voting System Are you aware of any initiative that have been put in place to empower local communities in hopes of curbing Illegal wildlife trade? Live Ended Yes I Am 0% 0 / 1 No I Am Not 100% 1 / 1 Via WP Poll & Voting System Did you know you can report Illegal activities involving wildlife to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife? Live Ended Yes I Do 0% 0 / 1 No I Don't 100% 1 / 1 Via WP Poll & Voting System