ZANIS COPY – ZCID ignorant of the ‘Mapatizya formula’

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—The Zambia Centre for Inter-party Dialogue (ZCID) says it is not aware of the controversial ‘Mapatiyza formula’ popularly used during political campaigns by the opposition United Party for National Development (UPND).

ZCID Executive Director, Horrance Chilando, says his organisation does not support un-written rules such as the ‘Mapatizya formula’ which is associated with the UPND.

Mr Chilando urged political parties in the country to abide by written rules, particularly their party manifestos.

He was speaking in an interview with ZANIS in Lusaka today.

Mr Chilando expressed disappointment that some political parties are abrogating the Electoral Code of Conduct Act instead of confining themselves to the law of the land under the Electoral Commission of Zambia.

“ZCID is not aware of the Mapatiyza formula and any other political formula during campaigns. Political parties should confine themselves to their manifestos and as such the Centre is not aware and we do not support the Mapatiyza formula because it is outside the law of the land,” Mr Chilando said.

The infamous ‘Mapatiyza formula’ has unsettled the Patriotic Front (PF) including other political parties because it is characterized by violence.

But UPND’s Deputy Spokesperson, Cornelius Mweetwa, insists that the ‘Mapatiyza formula’ is not about violence but a way of monitoring votes from being stolen.

Meanwhile, Mr Chilando has disclosed that an indaba has been set for this week at a named hotel in the capital city, Lusaka.

The ZCID Executive Director said all political parties have been invited and pleaded with all the parties not to shun the indaba because it is one way of bringing sanity in Zambia’s political arena.

Mr Chilando said top of the agenda to be discussed is the Constitution making process and adherence of parties to embrace each other in the country.

“We are holding an indaba this week with all political parties in the country and the Centre has informed the parties accordingly,” he said.

PF, UPND, Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD), United National Independence Party (UNIP), Alliance for Democracy and Development (ADD), Heritage Party (HP), National Revolution Party (NRP) and the National Restoration Party (NAREP) are some of the parties expected to attend the forth coming indaba.

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