LUSAKA, Dec. 23 (Xinhua) -- The Zambian government has defended the country's official news agency which has come under attack for its alleged biased covering of presidential candidates in the run- up to the Jan. 20 presidential election, a senior official said on Tuesday.
The Zambia National Information Services (ZANIS) has drawn heavy criticism from opposition and civil society groups for it mounted the public address equipment during the nomination of the governing Patriotic Front candidate Edgar Lungu.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), the country's electoral body, on Sunday said the move has given Lungu advantage over other candidates and that it should have done the same service to all political parties.
However, government spokesperson Joseph Katema dismissed the ECZ's accusation on Tuesday, saying the there was no violation of the country's electoral code of conduct, as acting Zambian President Guy Scott was in the delegation that escorted Lungu to file his nomination papers.
ZANIS just acted in accordance with its mandate of providing communication support to government officials, at no cost, and acted within the law, he said in a statement.
"Government would like to correct the impression created that the Zambia News and Information services favored the Patriotic Front presidential candidate, Edgar Lungu, when they provided public address system during the filing of his nomination papers on Saturday, 20th December, 2014," he said.
Under the Zambian law, only the sitting president and his vice are allowed to use government resources during campaigns.
About 11 presidential candidates are expected to take part in the Jan. 20 election following the death of President Michael Sata on Oct. 28.
