By REBECCA MUSHOTA –

THE European Union (EU) is confident that Zambia will conduct free and fair elections scheduled for August this year.
The EU has said it has confidence that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has the capacity to successfully organise the August 11 general elections in a free and fair manner.
This is according to a statement issued yesterday by EU Zambian and Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa delegation Press and information officer Namambo Delot.
“We confirm our confidence in the Electoral Commission and its capacity to successfully organise the upcoming elections on 11 August which we hope, in accordance with Zambia’s tradition, will be free from violence and fully respecting fundamental democratic rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly,” the EU said.
These are fundamental principles that the EU prioritised and that it believed in a level playing field without being partisan.
The EU and its member States value the close and friendly relations with Zambia and were committed to helping address the current challenges in the economy generally and the energy sector in particular.
The EU looked forward to continuing its strong partnership with Zambia, and to further enrich it in the fields of development cooperation, trade and investment, as well as to pursue a fruitful political dialogue with all stakeholders, among them, Government, opposition parties and civil society organisations.
The European bloc says 2016 is an important year for Zambia as it is characterised by a number of challenges and opportunities as well.
After having passed into law the Constitutional Amendment Bill, Zambia had the opportunity to complete the constitution review process, and the country could further consolidate its tradition and reputation for democratic elections.
The year 2016 could also be the year when Zambia capitalised on its status as a regional role model for peace and stability, and engage further in regional and international scenes.