Keep calm and wait for results, international observers urge Zambians
Stay calm and wait for the official results, observers have urged all Zambians. The call has come in the wake of anxiety and suspense which has punctuated the announcement of results
International observers accredited to Zambia have also called for calm and peace as Zambians await to hear who will take the reigns in the next term as the Republican President
The observer missions, which include the European Union, African Union, SADC, COMESA, EISA, the Commonwealth, the Carter Center and the SADC Parliamentary Forum (SADC PF), stated that Zambia should uphold the peace that prevailed on voting day.
“We, the undersigned Heads of Election Observation Missions, take note of the concerns raised by various stakeholders, including the ECZ, regarding the widely reported sporadic acts of inter-party violence which have occurred in some parts of the country during this pre-election period,” read the joint statement obtained by Zambian Eye.
“We are similarly cognizant of the assurances from the Zambia Police Service (ZPS) to provide the necessary security for the General Elections and Referendum to ensure that they take place in an environment which is free of intimidation and violence. In this regard, we urge the police to provide even-handed security services.”
The observer missions stated that it was important for people to remain calm even as they await the election results.
“We further appeal to all the stakeholders to refrain from making any utterances and or performing acts that could trigger tensions and negatively affect the electoral environment. We encourage political parties and other stakeholders to cherish and embrace peace, tolerance and non-violence during the pre- election and this post-election phase of the electoral process, a virtue for which Zambia is known,” read part of the statement.
“We further appeal to all political actors and other stakeholders to embrace the Zambian democratic values and practices in line with the Constitution and electoral laws of the Republic of Zambia; and seek redress through established legal mechanisms; and in accordance with the provisions of the revised SADC Principles and Guidelines Governing Democratic Elections; the provisions of Article 6 (h) of the COMESA Treaty, the COMESA Guidelines on Election Observation; the African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance, the UN Declaration of Principles for International Election Observation, and other regional and international obligations.”