The Electoral Commission of Zambia says it has not yet decided on whether to have ballot papers for the 2011 elections printed in Zambia or South Africa.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna says the commission is still assessing whether the State owned Government Printers is in a position to meet the security concerns that calls for printing of ballot papers.
In an interview with QFM today Mr Akufuna said that the commission is still waiting for the Government to address the security concerns at the Government Printers building that were raised during a consultative meeting of stakeholders before a decision can be made.
And Mr Akufuna says the commission is and will remain an autonomous body. He said the commission is not mandated to take decisions from anyone. He adds despite the ECZ drawing it’s funding from the treasury, it has always demonstrated its independence.
Earlier Works and Supply Minister Mike Mulongoti was quoted in the media saying that the 2011 election ballot papers will be printed in Zambia.
Meanwhile Mr Akufuna has dismissed assertions by some opposition political parties that ECZ is giving priority to the Milanzi parliamentary by-election because it is a stronghold of the ruling MMD.
He says the commission can only announce an election date of a by-election after being officially notified by the National Assembly through the Speaker.
Mr Akufuna explains that the vacancy for the Milanzi seat was communicated to the ECZ earlier and while the vacancy for the Mufumbwe seat was only communicated to the commission when the date for the Milanzi by-election had already been announced.
There have been calls for the ECZ to hold both the Milanzi and the Mufumbwe by-elections at the same date. The ECZ has set 29th April, 2010 as the date for the Milanzi parliamentary by-election.
QFM
That’s a No vote for using govt printers then.
Printing ballot papers by Zambian Government Printers is a NO! NO! NO! :O
If Chiluba can be acquited by instructions from state house, how can government printers be trusted with ballot papers.
Awe twakana ba mukukulu imwe. Why try and create unnecessary confusion?
Printing ballots at govt printers is a better option. The opposition can monitor the process cheaply and efficiently at govt printers if they fear fraud. It also plows money into the economy and also acts as a product placement which we can use to show other nations that we are capable of printing high quality ballot papers.
Who knows, next time Malawi might be printing ballot papers in Zambia therefore adding more money into our treasury.
Malabish:
Bushe Mulongoti didn`t say last time that the next election`s ballot papers will be printed in Zambia because the machine being installed at the gverment printers will be completed?????
So what kind of nonsense is this. He said that before the last elections on which they decided to do it in South Africa.
Do you want VJ to be sick again with an ear infecton durring the printing of the ballot papers?
Good Evening
As nambala one has already observed, the fact that ECZ is still assessing whether it is reasonable to have the job done in Zambia is a serious indictment on Government Printers and state-owned enterprises in general.
I think if only authoritative bodies like ECZ would show a lttle more faith in the local industry, it might just hit home to the managements and cause a positive change of attitude.
Where you decide ECZ elections will still be rigged-yaba Zambia will never change that is why nalifumako becoz my BP on greed politicians was high. I love my country and want to come back but opposition still weak. Zambians in the diaspora cannot vote, Bwezani is now a tourist FTJ, LPM & Kaunda combined. MMD will always rule unless God helps us with a miracle. Even us Zambians including myself are to blame busy complaining in bars, workplaces, living rooms, workshops, blogs with people stealing in our faces ati we are a peaceful nation we dont like problems then ahe! ECZ will always print those fake ass ballots and guess what our children will be paying maintenance for LPM’s grave site, FTJ’s medicals, KK’s birthdays, Maureen Mwanawasa’s weaves, Thandiwe’s shoes….I am just saying
Imwe where is that dreamer Maestro hehehehehehe, Chewe, Pro Mutengo with 17 PHDs, Muzo, I see Nine Chale opomuchili, that chic with Australia flag, Baby C, Lisa, Ba Maureen, Slum Dog, some guy from South africa & Botswana flags awe kale mwe!
Keep ur heads up fellow Zambians!
if Sudan can print its own ballot papers why cant we? Atase pa zed ifya bushilu. We just want to create employment for other countries while our own are suffering
Govt Printers?, not ballots for 2011. NO! No! Govt Prinsters as it is, it is State House. We can Print Ballots from state House
The BEST option would be to use the Mission Press in Ndola as they already have the necessary equipment and expertise to do a good job.
And!, no extra ballot papers will be printed for rigging purposes.
Hopeless ECZ also needs to be redcardized.
Chris Akufuna sucks big time.
State owned Government Printers can not be entrusted with ballot paper printing is as good as somebody being a prosecutor and judge of his own case.
“…..the commission is and will remain an autonomous body….” my foot.
Akufuna is and will remain the MMD agent
The opposition must read between the line. Otherwise they all suck!!!;))
Mba mebantu: what’s happening to the other story of electronic fimofimo? Maybe some of us didn’t understand what it was about.
Why should they start thinking as though they’ve never done it before …ata bane; ata kuku!
Mba mwebantu: what’s happening to the other story of electronic fimofimo? Maybe some of us didn’t understand what it was about.
Why should they start thinking as though they’ve never done it before …ata bane; ata kuku!
Chri Hakufuna stik to your word.What is difficult about print ballot papers in Zambia.We have the man power,capacity etc.Why should you pump K46b into another country s economy.Prove to me whelther ECZ is autonomous by telling government to print ballot papers in Zambia