President Lungu extends inquiry into voting patterns

President Edgar Lungu has for the second time extended the mandate of the Commission of Inquiry into Voting Patterns and Electoral Violence for an extra three months.

This is through the issuance of Statutory Instrument No.6 of 2018 in which President Lungu has exercised his powers under the Inquiries Act to lengthen the commission’s mandate to December 31, 2018.

Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Commission chairperson Munalula Lisimba explained that the extension is meant to enable his commission complete its work.

Justice Lisimba has disclosed that the commission had as at June 30th, 2018 covered only 8 of the Country’s 10 provinces in receiving submissions from the people.

He has named the provinces as Copperbelt, North-Western, Luapula, Northern, Muchinga, Eastern, Western and Southern.

Justice Lisimba says the commission therefore intends to use the extended period of its mandate to hold public sittings in Lusaka and Central provinces in October, and does not anticipate any further extension of its mandate thereafter.

And Justice Lisimba has clarified that the extension of the mandate of his commission does not mean extra allocation of funds, stating that the commission will hold public sittings within the initial budget.

He says once his commission completes its work and compiles a report it expects President Lungu to act upon its findings as there is enough time to implement its recommendations before the 2021 elections.