ECZ Can’t Regulate Current Political Campaigns – Chimanse
By Staff Reporter
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it has no mandate to regulate political activities outside the official campaign period.
Public Relations manager Margaret Chimanse said although the institution had heard concerns about the commencement of political campaigns by some political parties it could not do anything about the matter.
“Section 28 (3) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016 provides that: ‘The campaign period shall commence and close on such dates as the Commission may determine’. The Commission therefore has no jurisdiction to regulate any political activities outside the official campaign period as stipulated by law,” said Chimanse in a statement on Tuesday.
“All matters relating to political activities outside the prescribed campaign period are supposed to be managed by relevant law enforcement agencies that have the mandate to maintain law and order under the Public Order Act.”
