The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set June 26, 2008 as date for holding Milanzi constituency parliamentary by-elections in Ketete district of Eastern province.
The Milanzi constituency seat fell vacant after the death of United National Independence Party (UNIP) Member of Parliament Chosani Njobvu last month.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna also announced that on the same date, there would be local government by-elections in four wards following the death and resignations of councillors in various wards in the country.
Mr. Akufuna said in a statement to ZANIS today that voting in the by-elections would run from 06:00 hours to 18:00 hours on Thursday, June 26, 2008 in respective polling stations.
He said candidates aspiring for parliament should have nine supporters who should also be registered voters in affected constituencies.
“The supporters must have in their possession green national registration cards and voters’ cards. Aspiring candidates will be required to pay K500, 000 non-refundable nomination fee,” he explained.
He said candidates aspiring for councillorship should also have nine supporters holding green national registration cards and registered voters in the affected constituencies.
He said aspiring candidates for the local government in by-elections in district councils should pay K50, 000 while those in municipal councils should pay K75, 000 non-refundable nomination fee.
Mr. Akufuna said statutory declarations and nomination papers would be lodged on May 29th this year between 09:00 hours and 15:00 hours.
“Aspiring candidates in the by-election should lodge completed and attested statutory declaration and nomination papers subscribed before a magistrate, local court justice, head of a primary school, head of a secondary school, principle of a college, commissioner of oath or election returning officer,” he said.
He said the campaign period for the elections would start on May 28 and end at 18:00hours on June 25, 2008.
Meanwhile, Mr. Akufuna has advised registered Non Governmental Organisations wishing to monitor the elections, to apply for accreditation at the ECZ from May 18 to June 19, 2008.
He said each political party wishing to contest constituency elections would be allowed to accredit up to 20 officials.
Mr. Akufuna has meanwhile cautioned political parties that only a maximum number of ten accredited members per political party and two accredited representatives of NGOs would be authorised to represent their respective political parties or NGOs at the collation centre.
He further added that not more than two political party members per participating political party would be allowed to witness the counting of votes at the polling station.
