The electorate in Katuba Constituency have advised the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to be transparent in inspection of Voters Register at the polling districts in the constituency.
The electorate say the ECZ in the district should inspect the voters register at respective polling stations instead of Chibombo District Council offices.
Their appeal follows the ECZ announcement that registered voters in all polling districts in the constituency are expected to verify their details in the voters register at Chibombo District Council Offices.
But some electorates told ZANIS crew today that they may not manage to go to Chibombo District Council offices to verify their details because of the long distance.
The electorates who complained about the distance to the district council offices include those from Bakeni Community Market at 15 miles, Katuba Lay-by, Kabangwe and Mungule area.
One of the Boyd Nsalikila, a trader at Bakeni Community Market said it would cost one a K40 to go and come back from Chibombo District Council offices.
Mr Nsalikila said this amount of money could not be affordable to most of the people in the area.
He said it would, therefore, be more affordable if ECZ allowed people to verify their details at the polling stations in the constituency.
And Matildah Mwakampwita said most of the people in the area are farmers who may not be willing to abandon their fields for the whole day and travel to the council offices to verify their details in the voters’ register.
She said despite people understanding the importance of verifying the details in the register, the distance to the council offices may discourage them from doing so.
Meanwhile, District Council Secretary Josephine Phiri, who is also the District Electoral Officer, said it is unfortunate that the district council offices are located far from the constituency.
Mrs Phiri however encouraged the registered voters to visit the council offices and have their details verified in the voters’ register.
The public inspection of the Register of Voters for Katuba Constituency started on January 7, 2014 and will end on January 11, 2014 at Chibombo District Council Offices.
During the exercise, registered voters in the constituency are expected to verify their details in the register.
The exercise also includes replacement of voter cards for those who have lost their cards or whose cards are defaced, and death notification for registered voters who have died.
ZANIS
PEOPLE WILL EVENTUALLY BEGIN TO APPRECIATE THE RATIONALE BEHIND THE GOVERNMENT’S CREATION OF MORE DISTRICTS!
THE QUESTION IS : WHY HAS TAKEN ALMOST HALF OF A CENTURY FOR SOMEONE TO THINK ABOUT NEW DISTRICTS?
What is the role of a district? Maybe we can understand its necessity.