AFRICA/ZAMBIA - Churches to monitor presidential elections in January

Lusaka (Agenzia Fides) – The principal Christian confessions in Zambia will monitor presidential elections to be held 20 January 2015 by means of a purposely formed body: Christian Churches’ Monitoring Group (CCMG). The elections were brought forward following the death of President Michael Sata (see Fides 29/10/2014 and 21/11/2014).
According to Fr. Cleophas Lungu, secretary general of the Zambia Episcopal Conference, the CCMG is organising a vote monitoring exercise Parallel Vote Tabulation, PVT, to prepare the volunteers who will actually monitor the January Vote.
CCMG members include besides ZEC, the Jesuit Centre for Theological Reflection (JCTR), the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), comprising the country’s various protestant churches, the Evangelical Fellowship in Zambia and Pentecostal Christians.
Presenting the initiative Fr. Lungu urged young Zambians not to let themselves be used for violence by any political force, but instead to take part in the electoral campaign actively and responsibly. The Secretary general called the local media not to provide a stage for an exchange of insults between candidates, instead, he said, they should offer the public quality information to enable them reach a conscious decision. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 3/12/2014)