By JACK MWEWA –
THE political candidate endorsements that have characterised the forth-coming presidential by-elections conflicts the democratic principle of secret voting.
Alex Ng’oma, a political scientist at the University of Zambia (UNZA) said that in any democracy, voting was secret and that only the voter should know who to vote for.
“Voting is secret; no one should know the person I am voting for, except myself, therefore, the tendency of publicly endorsing preferred political presidential candidates we are witnessing now, conflicts the democratic principle,” he said.
Dr Ng’oma said that voting was done in secret ballot boxes, a move signifying that the whole process ought to be secret only the voter should know who to vote for.
He said that even in the wake of such public endorsements, the declarations could not be taken seriously as only what happens in the voting booth was cardinal.
“Such public endorsements cannot even be taken seriously, as only that which happens in the secret voting booth was cardinal; one could make a public proclamation, yet decide to vote otherwise on the final day,” Dr Ng’oma said.
January 20, 2015 fourth-coming presidential by-elections has seen the leading contenders being endorsed across rival political parties, while others have been supported by Faith Based Organisations.
Meanwhile, some clergy have been prophesying in favour of United Party for National Development presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema while others for Patriotic Front’s Edgar Lungu.
President of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Zambia, Harrington Akombwa said such prophecy was simply human speculation which should be taken religiously.
“That is simply human speculation, it is not prophecy, that’s all I can say,” said Dr Akombwa.