The Electoral Commission of Zambia has today commenced the distribution of ballot papers to all districts ahead of next week’s presidential election.
ECZ Public relations Manager Crispin Akufuna has confirmed the development in a statement issued to QFM New today.
The country will next week Tuesday 20th January hold the presidential by-election following President Michael Sata’s death in October last year.
Eleven presidential candidates are contesting for the presidency.
Meanwhile the Electoral Commission of Zambia and political parties participating in the presidential election have resolved to condemn in the strongest terms the intolerance and violence recently witnessed during political party campaigns.
This follows a meeting that was held at the ECZ today 13th January and attended by Police Inspector General Stella Libongani,Bishop Joshua Banda of Northmead Assemblies of God,Fr Cleophas Lungu of the Zambia Episcopal Conference and Reverend Pukuta Mwanza of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna says the meeting further resolved that presidential candidates of the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development should publicly condemn violence at their rallies.
Mr Akufuna says the presidential candidate should preach peace and also stop their respective political party cadres from engaging in all forms of violence in the remaining days for political campaigns.
And the ECZ today held a meeting with UPND vice president Dr Canisius Banda and senior UPND officials over Dr Banda’s allegations during a recent media briefing he held.
Apa manje akuna kulala! advise to upnd,they must send strong men to pf stronghold as observers so that they can counter rigging.rigging can easily be done in places where there presence is less felt.
DEFEAT IS ALWAYS NOT EASY TO ACCEPT. THERE WON’T BE RIGGING. ANYONE WINNING WILL WIN AND THERE’LL BE LOSERS AS USUAL. IT’S OK TO SPEND SLEEPLESS NIGHTS GUARDING TO MAKE SURE IT’S A CLEAN LOOSE. I ONLY HOPE IT WILL BE WORTH IT.
@Brian Monde
Good for you Brian! Your faith in human nature, particularly in persons of PF ilk is out of this world! You win the prize today.
Just humour the die-hard cynics like me and let UPND strongmen guard these ballots – then we’ll all be happy. You with your faith, me with the strong men there.
It’s a win-win.
(TUMFWEKO) THANDIWE Banda Is Worth Over K 8 Billion
Before voting starts every box containing ballots should checked and a small sample of ballots tested for photoactivity by leaving them in the open after marking them. If the ballots change colour then, they are not good and an alarm should be raised straight away.
I wonder how a black man can steal a purse from a woman, they will be beaten as they are arrested and thrown in jail, for an 80 kwacha purse. Yet some men can steel billions of Kwacha’s and spoil the wellbeing of the population but thats ok cause they are politicians?
the truth is if africans are united and love each other today they will be able to start making headway, once there is one straight and progressive clean government that knows what it,s doing all other country in africa will follow and that will spell the end of western countries that have been sapping africa dry the problem is africans do not know this but europeans and americans know this, that is why they make sure there is always form of instability always somewhere in africa that the west create always look at the world today for instance ?
I have no respect for people who can smile while playing the silent assassin unless it’s in a movie, at which point I can root for the Godfather even whilst being reviled by his actions. Crazy world. Reel in those thugs intimidating people as we speak.
You have to escort those ballot papers all the way to their respective destinations to counter rigging. Stuffing is done at the point of distribution.
Let the people decide. Tired of the noise
Picture should have been captioned, “Mr. Akufuna at the crime scene..” lol, we need a little humor in this tense political week. Happy and peaceful voting people!
Great having a meeting, but where was the catholic representation?
Also, I see that the rightful Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima was not there. I am most comfortable when I know she’s in the vicinity of anything ECZ.
But kudos to Mr Akufuna for his support of the concerns of stakeholders in this election with those trucks.( By the way, did you check under the flatbed of those trucks too?)
Carry on ECZ, your diligence is appreciated.
Who is in charge of watching the ballot papers in the districts?
We ask the ECZ to do the right job in order to save the millions of Zambians sufferings. God shall reward the honest hearted persons. But who will guard these ballot boxes? Since Lungu is controlling the defence,and judiciary?