The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) says there is need to decentralize the Electoral Commission of Zambia in order to have an effective electoral process.
AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo says there is also need for the commission to consistently build capacity among its workers to enable them handle the electoral process effectively.
Mr. Tembo told ZANIS in Lusaka today that decentralizing ECZ would result in delivering election materials and facilitate the electoral process in time adding that this would also restore voter confidence in the country.
He said noted that they were a lot of challenges in the just ended elections especially in delivering election materials on time in distant places because all the materials had to be transported from Lusaka.
And Mr. Tembo has said that the ECZ should in future consider having election materials such as ballot papers printed within the country in order to reduce on the cost of printing them outside the country.
He said the country has sufficient capacity to prepare ballot papers and other materials adding that there is need to resuscitate the government printing department.
Mr. Tembo has also urged the media to report objectively and responsibly on electoral issues in order to avoid confusing stakeholders.
Meanwhile the AVAP Executive Director has commended ECZ and the Zambia Police Service for their capacity to hold elections despite the pressure of organizing the presidential by election in limited time.
The October 30th elections in which four candidates participated was won by MMD’s candidate Rupiah Banda.
ZANIS/CM/AM/ENDS
numbr 1111111111111
Useless, not interested anymore
Bloggers whats with being number 1 on blog?Be number 1 and post something sensible.
#1 anonymous you piece of sh!t.
don’t wrry, #1 jst waits 2 donkila the spot!!he’s got nothng to contribute.
AVAP don’t blame ECZ! blame the opposition, they would have been more effective united. they have theirselves to blame for the loss!
HH is selfish this time we are talking he would have been the Vice President but the chap just want to be president because he has money.2011 was suppose to be his but a lot of us have change our mind.
printing papers within the country will just increase suspicion and chances of rigging by party in power
There is no democracy in Zambia. Voting is just a shear worst of time. ECZ is just a joke the only credit they get is to print 4.6 million ballot papers while only 1.4 are used.
Now that is democracy in America. 100 million people voted and it took them less than a day to count the votes. In Zambia 1.4 votes and it takes them three days to count.
no democracy in zambia
useless country full of unqualified leaders who just wanna benefit from poor zambians.! i’ll never vote again better i find a country where 2 live
number last
Democracy is not only when you win. It’s also about congratulating winners.
Number last!
ITS DISCUSTING TO TALK ABOUT DEMOCRACY IN ZAMBIA.
I have just realised that Zambians need to go back to school or maybe they should develop comon sense.
ECZ is a joke of this country. They worst so much money and their delivery is a joke. They should explain the 44% vote turn out. If cant explain that then Zambia is a zoo.
I believe zambians are just used to taking whatever they are given.
One funny thing about Zambia is that even if thay had to change rules being the party with the least votes is declared as winner, MMD would still be in winner.
It is a shame why some organisations and people declare the just neded elections a success when only 44% of the voters cast their votes. What do people think of Zambia?
With Zambians its simple, Just give them whatever you have and they will take it. Because they dont know how to use their heads. Zambia is a Zoo.
@15. The Man
You have said all that. Now I just have one question to ask you.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING ABOUT IT??
#7 WE DON’T NEED YOUR VOTE. IN 2011 I AM RETURNING TO VOTE FOR HH SO YOUR VOTE IS SWALLOWED BY MINE. WHO TOLD YOU THAT YOUR CANDIDATE COULD BE TRUSTED. HE IS ON RECORD OF WANTING TO RULE UPTO 2013. STOP BLOGING YOUR CASH WILL FINISH, THAT INTERNET CAFE WILL FINISH YOUR CASH, OH SORRY RESERVE YOUR CASH FOR A K60 000 25KG BAG OF NSHIMA.
In 2011 only 30% will vote we have lost faith in the electoral system.
Our eletrol process leave much to be desired. We have a problem in
Zambia. If nothing is done MMD will be party ya muyayaya. I am not
writing just because i am a PF supporter but a concerned zambian.
My friends in UPND, if you think HH can win with the current system in place you are wrong.Something needs to be done. The earlier the better.
UPND you claim may have an intelligent and dynamic leader
but with ECZ and MMD partnership in place your voting will
be in vain. PF won butlook at what happened.
You are also in opposition tomorrow it will be you. Dont
be like helitage party who knows that they will never are
win. Thats why they are quick to say elections are free
and fair.
I really wonder what they mean when they say elections were free and fair. Is it because there was no violence or what? I’m not home but according to reports we receive, the elections in Zambia are never fair. Before election RB had a secrete meeting with Judge Mumba, what did they talk about? The ECZ got 6000 extra ballot papers even when they knew they had not issued people with voters cards. Of all the ballots printed how many were used? They need to clarify to make people believe there was no cheating. All these cases make us not trust the ECZ at all levels. The electrol system has to be changed, but still MMD has too much influence on the commission as they are partners in rigging.
If we all dont vote in the next elections, then we are saying MMD should continue ruling us illigally. What is needed this time around is to incourage these selfish opposition leaders to swallow their pride and form one strong opposition for th e best of the country. The Time is now for the talks nad not in the 11th hour.
MS AIR am sorry to tell you that HH will never win an election as long as he is standing against Sata. So if Sata stands in 2011 your vote will go to a losing candidate. I bet your HH is regreating his decision. If his not careful and positively analytical he will never ever be the president
HH and Sata have no chance in 2011. what sata and HH need to do is merge the two parties and groom a young and credible leader but not HH or sata. They also need to start campaigning next year to market the chosen leader.
As things stand they both have no chance in 2011.
#10 please observe your language because we need you here in Zambia so that you can contribute to the growth of this Country becuase you sound intellegent. Again please don’t insult Zambia it means you are insulting Zambians even youself.
Please fear God and comment wisely.
It makes no difference whether I vote or not, the mmd will still make sure they bounce back into power at any cost by rigging, so why should I spend 3 hrs in a que and nothing changes? It is just a waste of everything. Lesa fye umwine!
let us put pen on paper and help improve this electral commission.
For starters ;
1. it should be decentralised as suggested.
2. offer independent services for voter verification.
3. offer local contractors to supply the essential materials and include a binding confidentiality close for such suppliers.
4. Go electronic
# 15 you are a cabbage.
Don’t generalise when you don’t know what individuals stood for.
Our constitution as it stands supports the ‘first past the post’ system. meaning that who ever gets the majority even if only 10 people voted countrywide, the one with the most votes carries the day full stop. so don’t cry on things you are less knolwedge off.nonsens
9, 14 & 15 TRUE. POLITICIANS HAVE TAKEN ZAMBIANS FOR A RIDE.
Iwe Chi #1 and other characters like you who are congesting the blog by shamelessly yelling that I am number one are doing the people of Zambia a de-service. We expect any well-meaning Blogger to read an article, analyze it and make a meaningful contribution.
I feel HH would have agreed to form a Pact with PF if Sata could be trusted but then the seems to be misunderstood all the time.I can assure that Sata was going to fire HH after a few months in gvt and that would have been the end of his political career but then HH isn’t dull he foresaw all this.I think if Miyanda was in Sata’s position,HH would have agreed to work as his vice coz the looks credible.
Voter apathy is mainly a result of unfounded rigging allegations which make the electorate lose interest in casting their vote as they believe the election is already decided.
All stakeholders should urge their supporters at these mamoth rallies they hold to exercise their civic rights to vote and let their voices be heard. If indeed rigging does take place , the rigger would have to double their efforts to get the required votes to suppass a large voter turnout that has voted in favour of another candidate. This I believe would more difficult than trying to stuff a ballot box with 5000 extra ballots because too few people turned up.
32# Great input!
1. the ecz should be made autonomous
2. the ecz act should be ammended to make sure it is independent from the state and even it employees
3. we should adopt other forms of voting eg electronic as in america and brazil which are rigging proof
4. all registered voters should vote coz if rigging take place then the votes cast will exceed the registered voters
5. the ecz should before any election publish the entire voters roll summary for all to see eg constituency a 50,000 break down ps1. 5000, ps2. 4500, ps3. 3500 etc…. to avoid suspition
i like what No. 19 and 20 have said, UPND you think Sata lost the elections but next time it will be HH in 2011. These MWE MWE DEE goverment should not be left to one opposition party but every to remove them power.
Congratualtion Mr. Sata, you are the only person who has really been fighting for us poor, voiceless Zambians. Don’t give up this fight God will reward you one day. Viva Sata Viva PF.
ZCTU is no were to be head no wonder Sata worn in Urban Areas.
For people like Chitala, Aka, VJ, Mulogoti, Mpombo, Tenta and Chiluba oe day you will pay for deniying Zambians yet another chance to have a Goverment of there choice in State House.
Remember Gents God is watching!!!
If you read today’s POST Newspaper, you will discover that Masebo is admitting the blatant misuse of CDF funds by councils over the years, which fund RB has promised to up to K1bn from its current day K400m per constituency per year. So, the elections are not run by ECZ, they are run by district councils. ECZ is simply a facilitator. Can anyone tell me anything good about our councils so much so that we have entrusted them to run national elections? Why not let CSO do it for instance?
Lots of Sense in “De-centralization ECZ, AVAP “.
#24, The Man, the UPND has already started campaing for 2011 elections. President Hakainde Hichilema launched his campaign for 2011 in Ndola some fews months ago.
As for Sata’s PF, I would like them to join the winning team – the mighty UPND as soon as possible for Sata himself mentioned that he (Sata) only has president HH to gloom.
This is why I like Progress Finders (PF) for they are able to see when to give the best man support.
#19,Chocho,the best is to campaign separately but 2 days before the actual 2011 Presidential elections the (Progress Finders) PF should endorse the UPND presidential candidate by mass communication through Radio and TV to tell all Zambians wherever they will be to vote for the mighty UPND’s candidate.This will not give the MMD time to do a strategy sghift to win the elections.A few days ago, I kept asking both Sata and Mr President Banda that one of them should endorse president Hakainde Hichilema by spreading the news in the media that all one’s supporters should vote for HH.This beleive me can work! Let us all advise Sata to possibly use it in 2011 and thus he must continue as opposition.