Voter apathy worries former Minister

Voter apathy worries former Minister
Luwingu, Feb 2, 2015, ZANIS- Former deputy minister at State house in the Chiluba government Blackson Sikanyinka has congratulated President Edger Lungu for the triumphant victory in the just ended presidential elections.

Mr Sikanyika said in an open letter addressed to the President and made it available to Zambia news and information services that the successful victory in the just ended presidential polls has cheered many Isoka residents in Muchinga province.

He said that patriotic front should not relax because the victory was tight with the closest contender Mr Hakainde Hichilema of the UPND emerging second adding that a lot more must done in party mobilisation at grass root level and removing voter apathy.

Mr Sikanyika who was Isoka west Member of Parliament in the Chiluba regime expressed happiness in the manner democracy was unfolding in the country adding Zambia had become the beacon of peace in the manner political power was transfered.

He said the transition period was peaceful and later culminated into the smooth transfer of power from the then acting president  Guy Scott to the president elect Edgar Lungu.

Mr Sikanyinka who also served as Northern Province deputy minister said that people in Muchinga province needed civic education in order to beat the voter apathy which had characterized the just ended presidential elections.

He appealed to the  Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to engage ZANIS to educate the local communities about their constitutional rights to vote in any election without expecting to be paid.

Mr Sikanyika said voter apathy was as a result of lack of information and vote buying by some unscrupulous politicians who want to win elections by all means.

He said engaging ZANIS to do mobile announcements will enable many people understand and exercise their rights to vote.

The deputy minister also thanked ECZ for the manner they conducted the elections during the rainy season which was a big hallenge but managed to effectively deliver the results.

Mr Sikanyika has also congratulated the Inonge Wina for having being appointed to the position of the vice president and her appointment should inspire many women to participate in politics.

He encourages women to rally behind the vice president Inonge Wina in order to move the country forward.

Mr Sikanyika has also paid tribute to the newly appointed deputy justice Ireen Mambilima to chief justice taking over from chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda who has since been retired.

He observed that the president has shown good will for the women folk adding that this was in line with the  SADC Gender protocol on the appointment of women into decision making positions.