By Bennie Mundando
RULING Patriotic Front (PF) has overturned the decision by Home Affairs Minister Stephen Kampyongo to block political parties and other stakeholders from monitoring the mobile issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs).
Earlier this month, Mr. Kampyongo said that the process is a legal requirement according to the National Registration Act Cap 126 of the laws of Zambia that mandates his ministry through the Department of National Registration, Passports and Citizenship, to register and issue NRCs to all eligible persons.
He said the UPND and all those who are self-appointed monitors of the NRC exercise are doing so at their own peril as the police will not hesitate to effect arrests on anyone distabilising the process.
But giving an update this morning on the outcomes of the PF central committee meeting which was held yesterday and chaired by President Edgar Lungu, party Secretary General Davies Mwila said the party called for active involvement of all stakeholders, including political parties, in the process.
Mr. Mwila says the PF believes that by doing so, Zambia’s democracy will be deepened and strengthened.
He says the PF is informed by “a people-driven governance” philosophy as a means of accelerating and delivering national development, which reflects both the will and aspirations of the Zambian people.
He says it is for this reason that the PF attaches great importance to all efforts aimed at enhancing and expediting popular participation of all citizens in the governance process.
“However, this is not exclusively PF’s responsibility, but the responsibility of all stakeholders, including political parties,” he said.
