THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced an unprecedented political media blackout for the ruling Patriotic Front and opposition UPND in Lusaka, Nakonde, Mpulungu and Namwala Districts.
Patrick Nshindano, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer announced the draconian measure warning that the commission together with the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) would punish any media houses that cover political activity in the said areas which have recorded incidents of violence in the recent past.
Also added to the blanket sanctions list is a ban on roadshows which were earlier offered as an alternative to political rallies on allegations that the roadshows were being used as medium of lawlessness and anarchy.
Aside from curtailing media freedom, Nshindano’s sanction list also includes a restriction on the number of vehicles with public address systems campaigning to only two.
The ECZ has also ordered that door-to-door campaigns be done by only three people per team and that households could lock out the teams if they so wished.
Kalemba June 15, 2021
