A consortium of civil society organisation has now argued the Electoral Commission of Zambia must extend the registration period by 3 days.
Speaking during a press briefing today at Mika Lodge this morning, YALI President Andrew Ntewewe who dubs as Consortium Chairperson said in view of the fact that ECZ has already captured 75 percent of eligible voters, an addition extension of 3 days will help capture 85 percent of eligible voters.
“We think the shorter extension will afford 80 to 85 percent of the eligible population to vote. Secondly, those against the use of the new register are bent on wanting the Commission to run out of time to conduct other processes that add to the integrity of the voter register. An elongated extension will render delivering other activities impossible,” he said.
The CSOs said there are so many other processes in the electoral cycle which include removing of multiple entries which may be identified, correcting the missing data especially fingerprints, inspection, independent audit and certification of the register. These are elaborate processes which require adequate time!
Meanwhile the Consortium has taken a swipe at the Christian Coalition Monitoring Group for what it termed as unbecoming conduct in which some church mother-bodies, while professing to be neutral monitors, have continued to take a partisan stance against or in favour of political players.
“Some of the statements issued by this so-called independent monitor of the electoral process show a clear bias. Some of the church leaders in CCMG have already indicated they want to use the debt issue as a campaign tool against the Lungu administration while imploring their colleagues in the opposition to begin to state how they shall deal with the debt when they get into power,” he said.
The Consortium includes Young African Leaders Initiative, Advocacy for National Development and Democracy, Zambian Institute of Governance and Civil Liberties Platform, University of Zambia Students Union, Zambians for Unity, Peace and Development, and Common Ground Network.
lol 3 days ?? This Ntwewe fool has been given so much money by PF he’s willing to say anything
So where did Nthewewe get the number of registered voters if ECZ is yet to announce?
Chris Chivweta thy are useless. Wht can they do in 3days if they have failed in months
As of 12 December
Chris Chivweta still it doesn’t make sense to call for 3 days extension
what are ecz waiting to give us the number of registered voters?? but mu zambia che
Mshanga Saintiago, they said tomorrow
Headless chicken ka ntewewe
I agree with them. 3 days is sufficient
Lets be patient ECZ said they will announce how long
It’s a good call… But let it be a whole week to allow for many to be captured
How about another 2 months? These backwards people in my country, for Gods sake… ?
75% ( 6,750,000) was done in a month or so, what gives you hope that the commission will capture the 25%( 2,250,000) in 3 days ? With pace at which it is being done ? What arithmetic did you use ????
Three days is as good as saying no extension.
We thank ECZ that they made the decision to extend…but the suggested 3days is too short… Make it a week
with a nation prone to voter apathy, with voter turn out in 2016 at 56 to 57 per cent, ecz should be aiming for mass voter registration and capture as many ,imagine if they capture only 75% of eligible voters that means when its time to vote what will be the turn out?
At least 3 days will allow more people to vote
3 days is more than sufficient. Us as pf are not very concerned about how long ecz extends because regardless of timescale, we are still winning. The result wont change just because there is a week, year or month extension.
learned *****s
sycophants with PHD,s we are in trouble
An NGO that desperately needs funding has set a time frame for an institution that also needs funding, kkkkk! A friend in need is a friend indeed. Nthewewe please spare my ribs
It’s the job of Ntewewe to tell ECZ what to do. They said they will review the and advise how many days extension they will give. Let them do the job.
Seeing red where there’s green
Has southern province been overtaken now?
Then Ntyewe has to help protect that lead
More voters in PF strongholds is a victory in waiting