HH should pledge to accept polls results – Dr Sishuwa

By MUBITA KATETE

…appeals to the head of State to make a public commitment to Zambians that he would gracefully accept defeat and hand over power smoothly should he lose the August 13 election

PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema should publicly commit himself to accepting the outcome of the August 13 general election if he is defeated, Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa has said.

And Dr Sishuwa has cautioned that the August general election will be the first in the country’s history to be held without a surviving former President and the situation may have significant implications for the country’s democracy and post polls stability.

Speaking in an interview, Dr. Sishuwa, a Senior Lecturer at South Africa’s Stellenbosch University and visiting scholar at Harvard University said such a declaration would demonstrate leadership and help build public confidence in the country’s democratic process.

“President Hichilema should endeavour to make a public declaration and assure Zambians that the military would not be used to keep him in office if he were to lose the election.

The President should equally assure Zambians that he would graciously accept defeat and hand over power peacefully without causing political instability should he lose the presidency,” Dr Sishuwa said.

Dr Sishuwa has however, expressed concerns about public confidence in the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), particularly its top leadership, saying it should conduct itself in a manner that inspired trust among stakeholders.

While raising reservations about its leadership, Dr. Sishuwa said he still had confidence in many of the ECZ’s career staff, describing them as professionals capable of conducting a credible election.

He warned that if the electoral process was perceived to be biased, it could undermine public confidence in the outcome and increase political tensions and create instability in the country.

Speaking on Thursday’s edition of the Hot Seat Programme on Hot Fm, Dr. Sishuwa said Zambia was heading into a crucial election without some of the traditional safeguards that had historically helped ensure peaceful transition of power.

He said that former Presidents have often played an important behind-the-scenes role in promoting political restraint and encouraging leaders to accept election outcomes in the interest of national unity.

“This will be the first election in Zambia’s history where the country goes to the polls without a living former President, and that creates a very different political environment because former heads of State have often acted as important stabilising figures during tense electoral periods,” Dr. Sishuwa said.

He said that in previous elections, former Presidents had at times helped mediate during moments of tensions and quietly influenced political actors to prioritise peace and national stability over partisan interests.

According to Dr. Sishuwa, economic hardship remains a central concern for many households and could heavily shape voter sentiment as the country prepares to head to the polls.

“If there is one issue likely to influence voter behaviour in this election, just as we saw in 2021, it is the cost of living because people ultimately vote based on the realities they experience in their everyday lives,” he said. – REUTERS.