THE Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has condemned United Party for National Development (UPND) leader, Hakainde Hichilema's continued attacks on the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

FODEP president Stanley Mhango said in an interview in Lusaka that politicians should desist from attacking the ECZ particularly that Zambia would in 2011 be holding crucial elections, which would require a referee respected by all.

Mr Mhango said Mr Hichilema and all those attacking the ECZ would have themselves to blame if they eroded the credibility of the umpire.

He said stakeholders like Mr Hichilema should help strengthen the ECZ by agitating for the amendment to the electoral laws as opposed to attacking the institution and calling for its abolishment.

"The law that governs the ECZ is so weak such that it does not give the commission the capacity to manage the elections to the satisfaction of all. We sympathise with the ECZ because they are operating under weak laws," Mr Mhango said.

Bible Gospel Church in Africa (BIGOCA) overseer Peter Ndhlovu said opposition parties should desist from attacking the ECZ, arguing that the commission was independent and operated without any interference from the Government.

Bishop Ndhlovu said it was regrettable that members of the UPND-Patriotic Front (PF) pact could attack the ECZ in such a scathing manner even after the pact emerged victorious in the Kasama Central by-election.

But UPND spokesperson Charles Kakoma said Mr Hichilema's insistence that ECZ should be disbanded was because of the realisation that commissioners on the ECZ were biased as they supported certain parties.

"The ECZ is made up of commissioners who are loyal to the appointing authorities. We know these facts and that is the point Mr Hichilema was making," Mr Kakoma said.

As noted by FODEP, he said that the UPND was in full support of amending the electoral laws so as to make them conform with the dictates of the current trends.

Mr Kakoma said the recommendations by the Electoral Reforms Technical Committee (ERTC) should be considered when amending the Electoral Act.