Friday, March 29, 2024

Apathy characterized presidential vote

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Apathy has characterized Thursday’s presidential election to choose Zambia’s fourth Republican President.

Polling stations in most parts of the country, which recorded a fairly good early turnout, were empty by midday, casting doubts that most of the 3.9 million registered voters would cast their ballots.

A survey by ZNBC in Lusaka and other parts of the country revealed that most polling stations have recorded low turnout.

ZNBC staff covering the election in different parts of the country report that less than 50 percent of the registered voters turned up to cast their ballots.

The voting has also been characterized by some other shortcomings.

Some registered voters who lost their cards and had applied for replacements could not cast their ballots because electoral officials failed to trace the cards.

This problem was evident at polling stations in various parts of the country, prompting calls from a number of political stakeholders for urgent measures to address the matter.

The Independent Churches of Zambia and other Non governmental organizations appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia to ensure that persons who have not yet voted are given chance to cast their ballots.

Polling stations were expected to close at 18.00 hours, but time was extended in some areas, such as Kitwe, to allow voters whose cards were traced late to cast their ballots.
[ZNBC]

61 COMMENTS

  1. Well what kind of turn out do you expect when you have the whole lot of an army comander on national television on the eve of a major election threatening guns at a civillian population if they become violent. Typical VJ and FJT tactics when situation gets too tight for comfort. Now they have given the opposition reason to reject RB as winner and messed RB up.

  2. ALL THE VOTERS WERE FOR PABWATOO CAUSE THEY KNEW WAT THEY WERE VOTING FOR.
    SO EVEN IF ITS TWO WHO TURNED OUT,JUST KNOW THEY VOTED PABWATOOOOOOO.
    VIVA SATA VIVA PF!

  3. THOSE WHO DID NOT VOTE WERE MMD BECOZ THEY HAVE BEEN LIVING HAPPILY AND LOST THEIR VOTERS CARDS, THE PF MEMBERS HAVE BEEN SUFFERING AND KEPT VOTERS CARD AND WAITED UNTIL TODAY TO REMOVE THE MMD SO THAT WE CAN SAIL PA BWATOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

  4. KAPONYAS DON’T VOTE SO PF SUPPORTERS MULIMBE, RB AND VJ ARE SMILING NOW. REMEMBER NOT ALL PEOPLE WHO ATTEND RALLIES HAVE VOTERS CARDS FOR EXAMPLE KAPONYAS CAN’T KEEP THE VOTERS CARD, THEY ARE CARELESS.

  5. If people don’t go to vote, it means they don’t care who rules them. If people don’t care who rules them, might aswell opress them. European logic.

  6. Thank you Zambians from Central, Copperbelt, Eastern, Luapula, Lusaka, Northern, Northwestern, The Southern and Western Provinces for voting wisely. Together, Yes we have done it. The end.
    Special thanks to all LT bloggers especially those who did not insult anyone. PF cadres, it was great noting how focussed you were: the ‘pabwato’ thingy by you was constant and normally made my fellow HH supporters loses hope time-and-again until I would boost HH supporters morale. MMD cadres, it was a good run with you too. HP, sorry but try again to put up a good support. As for my fellow the UPND’s HH support base, it was great meeting you and participating in a noble cause to develop Zambia together.

  7. I was shocked to say the least……people should stop complaining about the poor state of the economy….how do you shy away from this important day…..
    Awe mwandi……

  8. Low voter turn-out may be a sign of protest. Its a vote of no confidence in our political system. If the turn-out was as low as 50% then the people are saying they have no confidence in any of the candidates. Given what we have put up with, who should we blame? Incompetent politicians or an unpatriotic citizenry?

  9. #2 That is utter nonsense,the Army Commander just like the Chief of Police was reiterating the fact that any silly & unlawful acts from Michael Sata & his cadres will be dealt with sternly.Sata gave an interview in which he said in 2006 he was robbed of victory,his supporters wanted to cause havoc but he stopped them but this time if he loses he says he won’t accept the results & he goes on to say ” a man can only be pushed so far,this time i will not be pushed & won’t show restraint s MMD should blame itself for what will happen should i lose”.Now you #2 above,does anyone need such threats,Sata should have beeb arrested for saying that but they just gave him a warning.

  10. Sata needs to be warmed. Kudos to the Army Chief and Police Chief. This childish behaviour of Sata has to be stopped. The post was manipulating pictures showing Sata as having support. Let us see the truth now. These PF people are thugs. They lie and cause alarm for nothing. Good ridance Sata has been shown to be a sham. Best we get HH if not Banda any day rather that Sata. Let Sata and his minions go and rule Insakas in Northern province

  11. What happened to the mammoth rallies eh? Most of the chaps were not even voters. People just went there for entertainment – especially in the case of PF.

    All that noise and dance put up yesterday was a waste of time.

  12. #19 Yeah right. Who doesn`t know Zed has no entertainment? So what do you expect the people to be doing when they can go and be entertained by some fat ugly man or a few deluded tONGAS?

  13. Things in Lusaka are the same as last time (2006); PF leading about 3-1 in most places. Like Kabwata PF had more than 600 while MMD and UPND had about 200. Munali was 400-something with RB 119.

    Source: MUVI TV

  14. Newsflash from MUVI TV:

    For Ngwerere in Lusaka,
    PF 3894 MMD 1551 UPND 522 HP 32

    Total Counted by MUVI TV so far is MMD 4467 and PF 9469.

  15. Newsflash from MUVI TV:

    Livingstone:
    Dambwa North: UPND 154 MMD 114 PF 58 HP 3
    Apostolic Faith Station: UPND 337 MMD 285 PF 119 HP 0

  16. Out of 18 polling stations in Kabwe, Bwacha Constituency 12 PF 6 MMD with UPND and HP winning none.

    Full results later but so far actual results as follows:

    Old rural Boma Sata 68 MMD 62 HH 9 HP 2,
    Shibinda PD 68 HH ? Sata 3 Miyanda 1
    Makombe MMD 51, HH 21 HP 1 Sata 6
    Munga RB 169 HH 28 HP 4 Sata 23
    Nambe MMB 188 Sata 158 HH 59 HP 2
    Another Station MMD 50 Sat 20 HH 11 HP 0
    Chambashi HH 7 HP 0
    Bwacha 180 HH 25 Sata 238 HP 6 MMD 62
    Chinese MMD 164 Sata 128
    CMML Sat 259 MMD 175 HH 10 HP 2

  17. MUVI TV:

    Lusaka Central

    Northmead: Sata 530 MMD 236 HH 126 HP 6
    Northmead B: Sata 450 MMD 165 HH 87 HP 7
    Kabulonga Sata 197 MMD 235 HH
    Bauleni Sata 716 MMD 302 HH 107 HP 8
    Independence Sata 235 MMD 105 HH 63 HP 5
    Cathedral Sata 314 MMD 171 HH
    PF 217 NMMD 97
    Matanda 520 MMD 149
    ?? Sation: Sata 240 MMD 71

  18. BREAKING NEWS:

    Sata takes an early lead but the contest is still neck to neck. From the results officialy announced, he has so far swept Lusaka, Luapula and Copperbelt. RB is doing fine in eastern province with one notable huge margin ovwer sata in Sinda constituence. The margin in Chipata central is relatively small. Overall he is ok in the east. HH appears to be doing fine in Southern Province but he remains a distant third in the race. Godfrey Miyanda is doing very poor. The other provinces havent sent in their results yet. I will update you later. Keep checking this site ok

  19. News Flash MUVI TV

    Wusakile:
    Twashuba PF 574 MMD 77 HH 21 HP 2,
    Lunguwe PF 502 MMD 65 HH 16 HP 3
    Mwachula 568 MMD 79 HH 17 HP 1,
    Mutotelo MMD 98 PF 483 HH 36 HP 3
    Nkana PF 449 MMD 49 HP 2 HH 18
    Chamboli PF 621 MMD 94 HH 2 HP 19
    Mwachona 411 HP 1 HH 7 MMD 72 , HP 1

    Kalulushi
    60 polling stations 23 stations counted so far, counted PF 624 000 3 318 HH 559 HP 79.

    What a margin!!! But I think the total for Kalulushi is incorrect.

  20. The race is between RB and Sata. It is neck to neck. RB is actually pulling through very well unbelievably. He has a fair lead in Western Province though HH has robbed him some votes that side.

  21. Item just received:

    Munali Constituency:

    UNZA Polling Station:
    HP 22
    MMD 369
    UPND 591
    PF 1275

    Remember in Munali we had other results with Sata leading in the ratio 4 to 1 against RB.

  22. #34, I always told Maestro Hhehhehhehhe that Pabwato was just too powerful and that he would have problems commenting come Friday.

  23. #11, ndalumba kapati. #36, a word of encouragement to all, in 2006 while studying in South Africa during a similar election result anxiety period, I congratulated Mr Micheal Sata for winning the Presidential election way before all the results from all constituencies came in. However, it so happened that Mr Sata lost those elections terribly where by he got 29% and late Former Zambian LP Mwanawasa won with 43-6%. To this end,I learnt my lessons. In Bemba, they say “ukutangila tekufika.” Remember,a similar thing happened to late Mazoka in 2001. My former history teachers used to say “history repeats iself.” In light of all this, I urge all Zambians to keep cool and wait for the final results.

  24. Maestro, yes 2006 is repeating itself but there are many changes this time around with Sata doing better in areas where he was beaten by LPM. Remember that LPM is not there and so RB had to actually sell himself anew.

  25. Numer 2 should go to school. An army commander saying he will defend the country threatens no one. The Sata people are already looking for reasons to reject the poll. HH and Rupia will have the last laugh !! Member and criminal elements thought they will retake Zambia. I even saw Pule !!!!

  26. We should get a new constitution as quickly as possible before 2011 elections as this bye election has proved to be a waste of money and quality time for productive work. I personnally think A RUNNING MATE style MUST be adopted to avoid such a mess. Also bye elections caused by defectors shud be abolished. let the person who came second replace the defector and punish the defector by making him/her pay 25% of the emoluents back to National Assembly coffers

  27. what happened to the crowds that characterised the rallies? Voter turn out is a let down. Is attaending campaign rallies viewed as entertainment in Zed?

  28. MICHAEL SATA:

    -This is a man who was going to invite ROBERT MUGABE to his inaugural speech last election.

    -This is a man who was one of FREDRICK CHILUBA’S henchmen.

    -This is a man who wanted to snub CHINA for TAIWAN and NORTH KOREA.

    -This is a man who started PF because he was bitter at not getting the MMD presidency.

    -This is a man who is an ex-COP, absolutely no idea about how an economy runs.

    -This is the xenophobic man who INVESTORS shudder when his name is uttered. Watch the EXODUS unfold.

    -This is a man with 90 DAY promises only rivaled by an IRAQI victory- George Bush.

    WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU VOTE FOR HIM!!? An educated person would read between the lines..

  29. Maestro Hhehhehhehhe Thank you so much for giving us UPND supporters faith and strength to go on.We still believe in the UPND manifesto and we will continue campaining and sensitising pipo.Lets wait and see the overall outcome so that we start strategising for 2011.

  30. NOW THAT WE BEEN INFORMED THAT RB WON,HERE IS THE NEXT NEWS..FAZ- president, Kalusha Bwalya is confident
    Football Association of Zambia- FAZ- president, Kalusha Bwalya, says the Zambia national soccer team has a chance of qualifying for the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.

    Bwalya says the Chipolopolo boys are capable of beating any team in their qualiying group, which includes reigning African champions Egypt.

    He says FAZ will soon meet with government officials to draw up the team’s training programme in an effort to prepare adequately for the qualifiers.

    Zambia begins her quest for a maiden world cup appearance with an away tough encounter against group favourites, Egypt, in March

  31. SATA HAS WON WITH A VERY BIG MARGIN……ZNBC IS AT GOVERNMENT HOUSE WAITING FOR RB TO CONCEDE DEFEAT……….UBWATOOO

  32. OFFICIALS AT LUSAKA INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT HAVE CONFIRMED THAT MULONGOTI LEFT THIS MORNING FOR DHUBAI APPARENTLY RUNNING AWAY FROM KING COBRA………AS THE DRAMA UNFOLDS…..VIVA PABWATOOOOO

  33. #45 I AM NOT PF BUT CHECK YO CANDIADTE TOO!LOOK AT THE PEOPLE AROUND HIM:BROKE NEVERS,CHITALA AND THE LIKE.I HOPE YOU ALSO NOT BROKE AND DESPARATE

  34. “Insabata mbuzuba bwa-Leza, tula boola kwiiya zya Jesu * 3

    Tula boola kwiya zya Jesu * 4?

    – SDA Church Zambian Tonga song.

    Brothers and sisters, fellow countrymen and women, I am now going on a sabbath recess to worship God, my Creator. I will be live on here LT tomorrow to see what is happening. Otherwise, I leave you with a serious statement that please “reflect on the tribalism that Sata and MMD (Chiluba) brought to Zambia by accusing late Mazoka’s UPND to be Tonga tribal”. May you all be blessed and take careful care. “Be lazy to do any evil” – unknown.

  35. #46, PEACE, you are welome. You wrote:

    “Maestro Hhehhehhehhe Thank you so much for giving us UPND supporters faith and strength to go on. We still believe in the UPND manifesto and we will continue campaining and sensitising pipo. Lets wait and see the overall outcome so that we start strategising for 2011.”
    Exactly!

    Remember, “Together, YES we can” – Maestro Hhehhehhehhe.

  36. ITS NOW TIME PF AND UPND POOLED THEIR RESOURCES (VOTES) TO DISLODGE MMD. THIS IS THE CALL FROM EVERY WELL MEANING ZAMBIAN WITH INTEREST AT HEART TO DEVELOP ZAMBIA. WE ZAMBIANS ARE HUMBLY ASKING BOTH PARTIES TO BURY THEIR HATCHETS AND JOIN HANDS. WE DO NOT WANT MMD/UNIP AGAIN. THERE IS TOO MUCH POVERTY IN THE COUNTRY WITH ALMOST EVERYTHING. TO PUT IT SIMPLY, PF, UPND PLEASE PUT TOGETHER YOUR VOTES AND KICK OUT MMD. THANKS.

  37. we wanted sata in so many area be coz he could andastand the uc of labour law in our countrly with the investors any he luoser but their discas together me my name am mvula wesley from chipata .with my suport .i can suport rb but not with mmd the part it self it has bad seed .or bad people so its bater for rb to change the cabinet and to gothroul the i v estors

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