AVAP appeals to govt to quickly fund ECZ

The Anti Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) has called on government to speed up the process of funding the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).

AVAP Executive Director Bonnie Tembo says timely funding to the ECZ will go a long way in enhancing comprehensive fresh voter registration in the country.

In a statement to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Tembo observed that the current voter register has outlived its usefulness because it has disenfranchised many eligible voters.

Mr. Tembo explained that the current voters’ register needs a complete overhaul to ensure that it is up to date because some people on the register have passed on, while others have relocated to other places.

He also noted that people who have lost either their voters cards or National Registration Cards will have an opportunity to have their documents replaced.

He said this would help curb low voter turn outs as evident in the past Chitambo, Kasama Central and Solwezi Central parliamentary by-elections. He further expressed concern that delayed funding to the ECZ will greatly disturb the institution’s constitutional and statutory functions.

Meanwhile, Mr. Tembo has also appealed to ECZ to begin the process of amending the electoral code of conduct ahead of the 2011 elections.
He noted that the electoral code of conduct in its current state can not provide the basis of promoting a level electoral playing field.

Mr. Tembo cited the media, the Police, electoral monitors and observers, the electorates, political parties and their candidates as some of the partners that should form part of the people in the amendment process of the electoral code.
ZANIS