Be patriotic and transparent, Prof Mwewa tells election bodies

PROFESSOR Gibson Mwewa has called for transparency and patriotism amongst bodies entrusted to organise the 2021 general elections.

In a statement a week after launching a book
– Forensic Balloting – combating electoral fraud’, Prof Mwewa said poor leadership on electoral matters could result in a chaotic scenes and plunge the country into serious disputes.

“It is therefore prudent that those entrusted with the mandate for managing the electoral process must be seen to be strategic, objective, transparent and patriotic and on top of things ahead of 2021,” Professor Mwewa stated.

Professor Mwewa who is also president of Forensic Experts Bearau said there was need to show leadership and patriotism and get started with preparations in a more transparent and professional manner.

Prof Mwewa insisted that there must be a clear road-map communicated to all interested stakeholders regarding how key issues were going to be progressed arguing that this would help boost stakeholder confidence.

“Matters relating to delamination of wards and constituencies must be transparent and their status made known through publications in media so that the citizens are well informed,” he advised.

“Matters relating to the voters register and voter registration process and what system is going to be used to manage the voters register database should be open to public debate ahead of the time. The printing of ballot papers and logistics plans for ballot paper process should have a clear road map,” he stated.

Prof Mwewa demand that there must be a clear plan of polling stations and how they were going to be manned well ahead of 2021.

“The road map or strategic plan should also show how challenges, errors and problems encountered in the previous elections are going to be avoided, resolved or improved upon,” he said.

Prof Mwewa further said “it is diabolical to be seeing the repeat of the same errors at every election.”

He observed that a strategic approach to 2021 elections was essential as it would help spot any possible challenges well ahead and put in place recovery plans.

Failure to have a strategic plan can result in heightened suspicion “among electoral stakeholders as it can be seen as deliberate ploy for electoral fraud and manipulation,” he said.

“Poor leadership on electoral matters can result in a chaotic scenes and plunge the country into serious electoral disputes,” he added.

“No one has the monopoly of wisdom and expertise – it is therefore my sincere appeal to those in leadership of electoral agencies to seek advice and learn from best practices.The stakes are very high for 2021 elections.”

It is therefore prudent that those entrusted with the mandate for managing the electoral process must be seen to be strategic, objective, transparent and patriotic and on top of things ahead of 2021.

Prof Mwewa also observed that Zambian economy was bleeding due to haphazard load-shedding programmes void of strategic thinking.

“The current social economic and corporate governance landscape is showing signs of management fatigue resulting in loss of strategic oversights.

He listed a number of challenges areas of farming, Investigative agencies not being able to do their jobs professionally,poor financial management practices in the public sector some as signs or of a fatigued leadership.

“These are some signs or red flags of a fatigued corporate leadership void of prudent strategic thinking at corporate level susceptible to fraud and manipulation,” he observed.

“God forbid that we should wake up to voter-shedding or voters-blackout in 2021 due to poor planning and lack of strategic foresight given the way things happening,” added Prof Mwewa.