United Party for National Development (UPND) President, Hakainde Hichilema has told the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to abide by the legal provisions which allow it to conduct a continuous voter registration exercise so that it doesn’t leave out any eligible Zambian voter.
And Mr. Hichilema says Zambian youths and the general citizenry have a collective responsibility to save the country each time danger looms.
Speaking at a press briefing in Lusaka yesterday morning, Mr Hichilema observed that the framers and designers of the Republic Constitution, in a quest to end reckless spending towards endless by-elections and reduce panic ahead of general elections, opted to add suitable provisions in the Constitution that would ensure the sitting Government did not deplete the treasury through the creation of endless by-elections.
“Electoral Commission of Zambia, register all the eligible Zambians. Did you saw the queues? You created that mess. The Electoral Processes Act of 2016 allows for a continuous voter registration exercise; that’s why the designers of the law put such measures so that there is no rush, there is no stampede which you’re creating now,” charged Mr Hichilema.
Mr Hichilema, questioned the criteria used to arrive at both the 30 days registration period for the exercise which came to an end last Saturday as well as the 4 days extension.
He accused the ECZ of continued abrogation of the laws of the land.
He said that it was public knowledge that ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Patrick Nshindano was “confused” by the endless instructions from the ruling elite to ensure that the voter registration exercise was conducted in a manner that favoured the PF and increased their chances of clinging onto public office beyond 2021.
“The ECZ has been abrogating the law because they should have been doing voter registration since 2016 because that’s what the law states. But, now they create these illegal provisions of 30 days…7 days per polling station and now the 4 days extension which is illegal. Now, if those in the ECZ and Government are ignoring the rule of law, how is this country to be governed legally? ,” he wondered.
The ECZ made an announcement that it had extended the voter registration exercise from the initial 30 days which ended on Saturday with an extra 4 “questionable” days against the law which allows it to conduct an ongoing voters registration exercise.
Many stakeholders have since condemned the move and have called for the Commission to revert to the provisions of the Electoral Process Act of 2016 so that eligible citizens are not disenfranchised.
Take these fooooools to court…complaining will not help anything
let the people of Zambia save the country twapapata extend more 4 day so that every one do the exercise
Ba President , Why do you just complain all the time? You have “clever “lawyers. Why not take ECZ to court. That is why I like Tayali. He takes the bull by its horns . Imwe lyonse complaining from your mansion. Where are your lawyers???? You have given up on them?
Take a leaf from EFF . They go to court instead of just complaining. Where is just Jack and Haimbe?
i wonder if ECZ thinks of the various students still writing their exams in their plans for Voters registration. with these rains in lusaka many people are finding it difficult to register as voters. the slow process and long ques are driving people away as well. the fact that the cards wont be used in the next elections is sad as ECZ will have to do another registration for another election.
Mr. President. Zambians have already decided. we come from compounds where huge turn outs are experienced in terms of voters.
We have resolved to vote for you. No amount of gymnastics will alter our minds. God be with you.
Why hasn’t anyone sued?
I don’t understand why voters registration has to be restricted to a certain time. What’s the logic? In fact in this era of advanced IT why do we have to register for voting? The NRC should be enough. It should carry all the required information of any citizen from driving license, passport to voting eligibility info. But knowing third world nations we are waiting for the US and Europe to tell us to do this
@obewa @KALABA let me guess you are not in zambia , have you ever heard about chapter one foundation?
diggers.news/courts/2020/08/07/chapter-one…
It has argued that ECZ has violated the Constitution by deciding to conduct voter registration for the 2021 elections over a period of 30 days only. Chapter One Foundation which has cited ECZ and the Attorney General as respondents in the matter, further wants the court to make an order mandating the Attorney General to implement the mobile issuance of National Registration cards throughout the …
But you do know that it costs money…. If people we’re serious they would have used the stipulated time to register as voters…. We serious people have already registered and ready to make you cry com 2021
Manda Chitemwiko and since he claims to have alot of money let him offer to do the registration… Actions speak louder than words
Just look at it in the picture. He looks so possessed with political demons. This guy has killed and will continue to sacrifice lives to get to state house .
We need to save mutinta hichilema from this evil beast. She is not even allowed to talk to the public or go out and serve the community like other potential first ladies do. She needs to remarry an easterner
Bally stop complaining…..if you are sure what ECZ is doing is wrong take them to court. You should have even have put an injuction to stop the whole exercise until the court makes a ruling.
Bally just shut up and let vote days extend
Chilila lalila
Continues does not always mean a continuum. In the case of Voter registration, continuous registration is implied by always setting up suitable dates for updating the voters roll Country wide before a major election. It cannot be continuous throughout the Country with permanent offices no. Voter registration is a sensitive matter that requires special controls and security. We don’t have such infrastructure to do it the Hichilema way whether he likes or not. What happened with his numbers kanshi. We have always thought SP had more numbers and ECZ sent more kits that side than any other place. Controls are always good.
If it must be continuous what time are they going to compel it and verification? Sometimes HH you speak as if you don’t have the concept of planing
Peter Mongeza but he doesn’t have the concept of planning no wander the number of losses ,look at his new appointments bene mubita nawa ba mazo mazo ninshi UPND has a leadership crisis?
Peter Mongeza my thoughts exactly some people level of thinking is questionable
Ba upnd no bwino bwino
Demand management is also important. Resources can mitigate targeted and fussed interventions. It is wrong to take ‘continuous registration’ literally. What counts is transparent and accountability. There is need for manpower. There is need for transport. There is need for equipment. There is need for cash allowances to pay for fuel, per diem, food, beverages and accommodation. Take time to build ECZ. Take time to build democracy. Take time to do statistics.
This guy is not a politician and he knows he is losing again. He has a defeatist mentality, losing elections even before the ballot is cast. Go back to what you know best and leave politics to real politicians. Under HH, UPND will never form govt. You even refused the extension of the period to hear an election petition from 14 to 30 days by shooting down Bill 10. what will you do after loosing because petitioning is simply not an option this time around unless you want to look real f00000000ls.
Registration is just like voting you can’t say people will vote the whole year just because they are eligible but ukopo winangu ?
@ Kennedy Chama….what a lie. That interpretation is meant to suit your warped thinking.
You are the people who have brought unending suspicions and quarrels among Zambians. Since when did this ever experience this stampede towards registration as voters except in this regime. In 2016 the registration process went on very well because it was more of use of old register and if you are already registered you simply make a verification.
If you are not in the database then you register.
As simple as that. What is complicated about what was being done before? The answer is that there is some underhand activities going on intended to affect the outcome of the elections
@Wemuntu sana, this registration was both to implement recommendations passed after 2016 polls that is to remove double voters and also to update with new voters. If ECZ can achieve its targeted numbers, we’ll and good. An election is done in 12 hours, why can’t we finish registration in 34 days?
In 2006 they told us that he was young with a fresh brain, 2008 man of the moment, 2011 Zambian Obama, 2015 Moses tulubule, 2016 Aleisa Aleisa, and on all these occasions he lost. Now he has himself told us that he’s Bally Pamunyoko Chhikala! We’ve already concluded what will happen even before the election is cast
You can’t have registration throughout naimwe atleast if you say let them increase the extension noti ivo??? ba hh awe mwandi
I cannot believe that HH is talking about the legal terms here. hahaha….
Ecz also needs time for verification plus they are not using water to work funds are also needed you are the same one who is going to complain if things went wrong
Under 5 sit down!! Whining every day? You are losing the sixth time and you dispute and start the nonsense again, you will at Mukobeko forever.
Useless chap trying to fan problems, how can it be continuous, he wants people to be registering even during elections?
Hakainde is right for once. The argument
about the means of achieving the goal can be left for another day.
I think HH should not tell ECZ what to do because ECZ is working extremely fine. It had registered more than 6 million voters in one month.
Some Zambians are dimwits, which courts are not under ECL?. Surely these people can not see H H points and insist on sueing ECZ. Will suit make ECZ more credible?, missing the point. Zambia is headed for destruction of democracy. If Zambians can not see anything wrong in ECZ, admitted by PF itself in the dismal performance of managing voter registration, where underage Zambians register as voters and unable to register 9 million voters as promised. One must be duffed unable to see and note total mess of ECZ. Sue, my foot
Chililalila number one! Defeat for the sixth time in the offing.Uwa fitala aka imwena says hh.
sir 4days it’s fine they need time for verification
But how it will be benefited for HH as no Zambian will be voting for him. HH should focus on his political career rather than teaching ECZ about legal terms.
Kalusa alikwata problem
Mr. Hichilema has provided a great job to the youths of Zambia, to wear a shirt of Supporting Lungu, roam around, misbehave on roads and take the video and photos of all these and upload in the name of PF. HH even pays them for this job.
The Electoral law is clear. Voter Registration is a continious process. ECZ should make it clear what Constitutional Provision it is using to extend the Voter Registration? It looks like ECZ’s priority is to disenfranchise Voters especially the Youths. ECZ should be sued in Court for failing to adhere to the Electoral Act in terms of Voters Registration. This kind of Voter Suppression especially in Opposition strongholds should be stopped. Take ECZ to Court urgently!
Since 2016, HH is crying that the votes were fixed by PF and he could have won the past elections. He is not ready to accept his defeat.
The PF think that if they stay in power, by hook or crook, then everybody else will be forced to accept them.
Under the PF, Zambia is going to end up like Zimbabwe or even worse.
Zimbabwe is just a country in name .Over 3 million of its nationals are living in other countries as economic refugees.
The ECZ is conniving with the PF to destroy Zambia.
HH is saying that ECZ extended the voter registration to benefit PF? He is against the registration process? He doesn’t want the remaining Zambians to register as a voter?
Instead of questioning ECZ about its criteria used for registration, HH should have visited one of its centres to check. What is the point of creating unnecessary drama after 30 days?
From the look of things, the other camp has done mathematics of provisioned numbers of registered voters and things looks bad already. UPND demanded for new voters register by registering voters a new but now they have just realized that Palibe zabwino! Anyway, time will tell
Aba beve no bwino bwino
In the UK registration of voters is continous. I do not know why you Zambins are complaining that it can not be done.
This ain’t the UK mate
I wonder what the problem is here because after getting my voters card, it is only me that knows whom i will vote for. Or tell me something, are we given different cards for each political party to notice that more of this party has been issued than ours? At this point, i see no reason to cry foul.
Crying and crying is a moto for HH. We are tiered listening to this chain loser. Always complaining awee iwe Mambala behave.