A week after banning political rallies, Zambia’s electoral body has allowed parties competing in the Livingstone by-elections to campaign via SMS, Twitter, Facebook, radio and television.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) banned political rallies in Livingstone by all parties following the death of a member of the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) who was hacked by unknown people.

Subsequently, the ECZ has said all parties participating in the by-elections are only allowed to campaign using the above-mentioned mediums.

The ECZ has implemented these measures in what it says is a bid to minimise clashes among political party supporters.

The by-election, meanwhile, is scheduled to take place this week on Thursday after being postponed last week owing to political violence that characterised campaigns by the parties involved.

Southern Province police commissioner Charity Katanga said the ECZ has allowed electronic campaigning by all political parties vying for the vacant Livingstone parliamentary seat.

“Therefore, the police will not allow anyone to use any other method of campaigning apart from electronic campaign authorised by the ECZ,” Katanga said.

While the opposition political parties are heavily relying on Facebook, Twitter, online media and radio to put across their campaign messages to electorate, the government is also using mobile operator Airtel to allegedly send bulk text messages to electorate in addition to social media and radio.

Several people in Livingstone are complaining about unsolicited text messages being sent to their mobile phones day and night asking them to vote the ruling party candidate.