BALLOT papers for the September 20 tripartite elections will be flown directly to Lusaka from Durban, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) chairperson Justice Ireen Mambilima has said.
Justice Mambilima told journalists at a Press briefing held at Universal Print Group (UPG) that the ballot papers would be flown directly to Lusaka unlike in the past when they used to go through Johannesburg.
She said the UPG would make arrangements to charter a cargo plane which would deliver the ballot papers directly to Lusaka.
This, Justice Mambilima said, would be done in good time for the elections. “Chartering of the plane will be done by the contractor because that is part of the contract,” she said.
Justice Mambilima, who also witnessed the printing of some ballot papers for local government candidates, also expressed satisfaction at the progress made in the printing process.
She said after witnessing the printing process and meeting all stakeholders present here that she was sure that all political party and civil society organisation (CSOs) representatives and the electoral body were working as a team.
“The director and I decided to visit this team and to come and witness the process of printing of ballot papers. As ECZ, our policy is to involve all stakeholders in the process and it is good that they are working very hard.
“The people here are working as a team and we have no doubt that we will be able to meet the deadline because printing is progressing well and once completed, all the ballot papers will be flown directly to Lusaka unlike previously when they would go through Johannesburg,” said Justice Mambilima, who was flanked by ECZ director Priscilla Isaac.
She also assured the nation that the ECZ was ready for the September 20 elections as all non-security materials had been delivered to all the districts. Justice Mambilima advised the observers here to take the exercise as an important task.
“You should take this as an important task because you have contributed to the electoral process. I am pleased with the way you are working as a team,” she said.
She said ECZ was only waiting for the people in Lusaka to send the remaining information for the printing of ballot papers for local government candidates following the completion of both presidential and parliamentary ballot papers.
Justice Mambilima said all stakeholders would be informed of the process and progress because the commission wanted transparency to prevail in the whole process.
She said political parties would accredit two individuals each to witness the arrival and storage of the ballot papers at the Hill and Delamain building, which the commission had leased from Zamcargo.
And Justice Mambilima said the commission had not yet sat to study the report submitted by Foundation for Democratic Process president Alex Ng’oma over an allegation that he attempted to smuggle a ballot paper from the printing plant.
“I can confirm that we have a report from Dr Ng’oma on the file but we have not yet sat as a commission to study it. All I can say is that it is in the hands of the other commissioners,” she said.
And Ms Isaac said the ballot papers would reach outlying areas not later than three days before the elections date as the practice had always been.
She said returning officers from across the country would be in Lusaka to verify that all the ballot papers had arrived, an exercise which she said would be done in a space of five days.
This, she said, would be aimed at allaying suspicions and that all political parties and observer teams would be allowed to accredit people to witness the offloading of the ballot papers and participate in proof reading.
[Times of Zambia]
EVERYTHIN IS OK AS LONG AS IT FAVORS MMD….YOU WONT HAVE IT EASY THIS TIME AROUND
Yor can tell at the faces on muvi tv ati tafilibwino on the part of ECZ and MMD.dONT GIVE THEM ROOM.wHY WAS it that in the last two election papers were sen to JHG and then Lusaka.this was all madness of some one.It the chairpesson and ba Judge Mumba.This time no more mufubwe,we have our ex service men on the ground.RB nachikosa ku Luapula ndodo.Western it is katwishi tata.He has to take the dead with him may he will be pa kaoma
Mambilima and Isaacs,
Possible mmd ways of rigging.
1.During transmission of figures from District ECZ officers to Lusaka. figures are changed to suit mmd
2.Rural ares polling agents are left behind when ballot boxes are put on vehicles WHILE telling agents that there is no space for them ,giving op,zp andecz officers room to temper boxes
3.Rural votes are deliberately counted last, at the excuse of distance and bad roads,to give time and room for manipulating of exergerating figures for mmd to cover up for the diferrences they are trailing.
Mambilima and Isaacs,
Possible mmd ways of rigging.
1.During transmission of figures from District ECZ officers to Lusaka. figures are changed to suit mmd
2.Rural ares polling agents are left behind when ballot boxes are put on vehicles WHILE telling agents that there is no space for them ,giving op,zp and ecz officers room to temper boxes
3.Rural votes are deliberately counted last, at the excuse of distance and bad roads,to give time and room for manipulating of exergerating figures for mmd to cover up for the diferrences they are trailing.
4.At district centres ballot papers are deliberately put in other parties’ baskets to disadvantage the victimised party for a preferred one.
5.Voting time is extended beyond the stipulated time.
Latest provincial opinion polls by African Political Research: Lusaka Province: HH 10%, SATA 68%, RB 18% and 4% undecided.Central Province: SATA 48%, RB 26%,HH 24%. Eastern Province: RB 58%, SATA 28%, HH 12%. Southern Province: HH 60%, RB 20%, SATA 15%. Copperbelt Province: SATA 69%, RB 18%, HH 13%. Luapula Province: SATA 51%, RB 30% HH 15%. North Western Province: HH 39%, RB 36%, SATA 24%. Western Province: RB 28%, HH 30%, SATA 42%. Northern Province: SATA 60%, RB 30%, HH 10%. 1% error margin RT:..Source: UNZA OPEN
RB KILLINGS IN WESTERN PROVINCE- LET LINYUNGANDAMBO ORGANISE MORE PEOPLE TO BOOO THIS KILLER AS WE WELLCOME MWAMUKOLO FOR CHANGE. RB=GADAFI=IDIAMIN=MUBARAKI=MUGABE=MABUTU
BREAKING NEWS;GOD says don’t be used as instruments of deceit,cheating or lying for the sake of hiding the real truth THEN I WILL GO TO THE GRAVE AND BE BURRIED WITH YOU AND RISE WITH YOU BECAUSE YOU TOLD MY TRUTH not the one you favoured.
Are the opinion polls saying the truth or just instruments by the deceivers? Send your answer to God.
Bravo ECZ. More of beta ways to handle the ballot papers please. we neee to build more confidence in the process. The world is surely seeing wat is happening and they will say it all at the end of the day….come 24th sept. All political parties ps suport ECZ in ensuring strict adherence to security ova the baallot papers. we want to vote on 20th sept period. Sory maningi to all those not ready for 20th sept. ps find other excuses. If at all you planning violence, you will never have it in ZED coz our GOD Jehova is in total control through the fervent prayers of His saints. I implore you to start campaigning seriously rather than keep bikering for nothing. ps convince us to vote for u. chapwa.
Almost there. 20 more days to goooooooooooooooooo!!!!!