Zambian general election, 2016: Difference between revisions

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Zambian general election, 2016 (view source)

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==Conduct==
==Violence and incidents==
Both sides traded accusations of inciting violence for political gain; the ruling [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] accused the [[United Party for National Development]] (UPND), of inciting unnecessary violence, and carrying out its “Operation Watermelon” to create tension in the country. In response, the UPND accused the Patriotic Front of politicising state entities against them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-lungu-pre-election-warning/3447937.html|title=Zambia’s Lungu Issues Warning on Election-linked Violence|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>  
*Both sides traded accusations of inciting violence for political gain; the ruling [[Patriotic Front (Zambia)|Patriotic Front]] accused the [[United Party for National Development]] (UPND), of inciting unnecessary violence, and carrying out its “Operation Watermelon” to create tension in the country. In response, the UPND accused the Patriotic Front of politicising state entities against them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-lungu-pre-election-warning/3447937.html|title=Zambia’s Lungu Issues Warning on Election-linked Violence|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>  


Violent outbreaks occurred in [[Lusaka]] after the government made the decision to suspend the operations of [[The Post (Zambia)|''The Post'']] newspaper (one of the few independent newspapers in the country) on 10 June.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/zambia-government-suspends-election-campaigns|title=Zambia: Government Suspends Election Campaigns {{!}} Freedom House|website=freedomhouse.org|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> As a result of the violence, the Election Commission suspended campaigning in Lusaka and [[Namwala]] for ten days, and the ban on the newspaper was lifted on 18 July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.africareview.com/news/Zambia-electoral-body-lifts-campaign-ban/979180-3301036-120v6rb/index.html|title=Zambia poll agency lifts campaign ban|language=en-UK|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> However, on 23 June the government started taking action against ''The Post'' for unpaid taxes of around $6 million; the newspaper denied the claim saying the issue was still being discussed in court. The opposition accused the government of silencing the media to reduce their coverage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/28/zambia-accused-of-attacking-press-freedom-as-newspaper-is-closed/|title=Zambia accused of attacking press freedom as newspaper is closed and editor jailed|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-politics-idUSKCN0Z91ZI|title=Opposition leader says Zambia unlikely to have free elections|date=2016-06-23|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>  
* Violent outbreaks occurred in [[Lusaka]] after the government made the decision to suspend the operations of [[The Post (Zambia)|''The Post'']] newspaper (one of the few independent newspapers in the country) on 10 June.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://freedomhouse.org/article/zambia-government-suspends-election-campaigns|title=Zambia: Government Suspends Election Campaigns {{!}} Freedom House|website=freedomhouse.org|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> As a result of the violence, the Election Commission suspended campaigning in Lusaka and [[Namwala]] for ten days, and the ban on the newspaper was lifted on 18 July.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.africareview.com/news/Zambia-electoral-body-lifts-campaign-ban/979180-3301036-120v6rb/index.html|title=Zambia poll agency lifts campaign ban|language=en-UK|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> However, on 23 June the government started taking action against ''The Post'' for unpaid taxes of around $6 million; the newspaper denied the claim saying the issue was still being discussed in court. The opposition accused the government of silencing the media to reduce their coverage.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2016/06/28/zambia-accused-of-attacking-press-freedom-as-newspaper-is-closed/|title=Zambia accused of attacking press freedom as newspaper is closed and editor jailed|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-politics-idUSKCN0Z91ZI|title=Opposition leader says Zambia unlikely to have free elections|date=2016-06-23|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>
* On 9 July 2016, the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia]] (ECZ) suspended suspended campaigns in [[Lusaka]] and [[Namwala]] districts for 10 days due to the rise in political violence in some districts which resulted in injury, loss of life and property. During the suspension, there was no public rallies, meetings, processions or door to door campaigns. All branded campaign motor vehicles in Lusaka and Namwala Districts were parked and were not allowed to be used for any purpose. The suspension was lifted on 18 July 2016.<ref name=LTviolence>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/09/suspension-campaigns-lusaka-namwala-districts/ ECZ suspends campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala districts] [[LusakaTimes]], 9 July 2016</ref>


===Arrests of opposition members===
===Arrests of opposition members===
On 20 July Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba, the vice president of the UPND, was arrested along with several party officials with the accusation that they were trying to start a private militia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/zambian-opposition-leaders-jailed-as-elections-near/a-19132564|title=Zambian opposition leaders jailed as elections near|last=(www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche Welle|website=DW.COM|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> The police raided his house and found petrol bombs, machetes and spears. The opposition denied the claims that the weapons were planted there after the arrest. The police raided the house following alleged political poster vandals hiding in the house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36845136|title=Zambia police tear gas opposition leader Mwamba's home - BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> A total of 28 people were arrested in the raid.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-politics-idUSKCN1001QS|title=Zambia police arrest 28 in raid on opposition official's home|date=2016-07-20|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>  
On 20 July [[Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba]], the vice president of the [[UPND]], was arrested along with several party officials with the accusation that they were trying to start a private militia.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.dw.com/en/zambian-opposition-leaders-jailed-as-elections-near/a-19132564|title=Zambian opposition leaders jailed as elections near|last=(www.dw.com)|first=Deutsche Welle|website=DW.COM|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> The police raided his house and found petrol bombs, machetes and spears. The opposition denied the claims that the weapons were planted there after the arrest. The police raided the house following alleged political poster vandals hiding in the house.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-36845136|title=Zambia police tear gas opposition leader Mwamba's home - BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref> A total of 28 people were arrested in the raid.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.reuters.com/article/us-zambia-politics-idUSKCN1001QS|title=Zambia police arrest 28 in raid on opposition official's home|date=2016-07-20|newspaper=Reuters|access-date=2016-08-06}}</ref>  


===Ballot papers===
===Ballot papers===
There was a lot of controversy in the printing of the ballot papers; previously all ballot papers had been printed in [[South Africa]], but the Electoral commission of Zambia awarded the contract for the 2016 elections to a firm in [[Dubai]]. The contract was significantly more expensive and many opposition parties criticised the move. Parties opposed the move as printing the ballot papers outside Africa was expensive to verify and increased the chance of electoral fraud.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/printing-zambia-ballot-papers-on-course-commission-says/3409989.html|title=Printing of Zambia Ballots on Course, Electoral Commission Reports|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> To counter the suspicion of rigging, the Electoral Commission allowed party officials to travel to Dubai to witness the printing of the ballots; all ballot papers were to be only released if all party officials approved of the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-opposition-having-ballots-printed-dubai-could-undermine-vote/3429490.html|title=Zambia Opposition: Having Ballots Printed in Dubai Could Undermine Vote|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> The printing was completed on 20 July 2016 and the ballots were transported to Zambia on 28 July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/27/last-batch-ballot-papers-transported-dubai-airport/|title=Zambia : Last batch of ballot papers transported to Dubai Airport|last=Editor|first=Chief|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> However, concerns with respect to the transport and distribution of the ballot papers then arose. The [[Zambian Air Force]] were responsible for distributing the ballots across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/ballots-zambian-elections-arrive-this-week/3437504.html|title=Ballots for Zambian Elections to Arrive This Week|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>
There was a lot of controversy in the printing of the ballot papers; previously all ballot papers had been printed in [[South Africa]], but the Electoral commission of Zambia awarded the contract for the 2016 elections to a firm in [[Dubai]]. The contract was significantly more expensive and many opposition parties criticised the move. Parties opposed the move as printing the ballot papers outside Africa was expensive to verify and increased the chance of electoral fraud.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/printing-zambia-ballot-papers-on-course-commission-says/3409989.html|title=Printing of Zambia Ballots on Course, Electoral Commission Reports|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> To counter the suspicion of rigging, the Electoral Commission allowed party officials to travel to Dubai to witness the printing of the ballots; all ballot papers were to be only released if all party officials approved of the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-opposition-having-ballots-printed-dubai-could-undermine-vote/3429490.html|title=Zambia Opposition: Having Ballots Printed in Dubai Could Undermine Vote|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> The printing was completed on 20 July 2016 and the ballots were transported to Zambia on 28 July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/27/last-batch-ballot-papers-transported-dubai-airport/|title=Zambia : Last batch of ballot papers transported to Dubai Airport|last=Editor|first=Chief|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> However, concerns with respect to the transport and distribution of the ballot papers then arose. The [[Zambian Air Force]] were responsible for distributing the ballots across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/ballots-zambian-elections-arrive-this-week/3437504.html|title=Ballots for Zambian Elections to Arrive This Week|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>
==Violence and incidents==
* On 9 July 2016, the [[Electoral Commission of Zambia]] (ECZ) suspended suspended campaigns in [[Lusaka]] and [[Namwala]] districts for 10 days due to the rise in political violence in some districts which resulted in injury, loss of life and property. During the suspension, there was no public rallies, meetings, processions or door to door campaigns. All branded campaign motor vehicles in Lusaka and Namwala Districts were parked and were not allowed to be used for any purpose. The suspension was lifted on 18 July 2016.<ref name=LTviolence>[https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/09/suspension-campaigns-lusaka-namwala-districts/ ECZ suspends campaigns in Lusaka and Namwala districts] [[LusakaTimes]], 9 July 2016</ref>


==References==
==References==
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