MINISTER of Works and Supply Gabriel Namulambe says Government will not recommend the use of Government Printers to print this year’s ballot papers because the department lacks the necessary equipment and security.
Mr Namulambe instead advised the Government printing department to prepare for the 2016 by-elections by upgrading the machinery and planning for the printing of ballot papers for some by-elections that may occur after the 2011 tripartite elections.
“If we are to print ballot papers, let us focus our energies on 2016 because we have to ensure that security is tightened and all the necessary machinery is bought and installed,” he said.
Mr Namulambe said this during a familiarisation tour of the government printing department yesterday.
“After this tour, I don’t think it would be wise for us to recommend that ballot papers be printed here, unless the Electoral Commission of Zambia insists. I would instead suggest that we focus our energies towards addressing the concerns raised by stakeholders and modernise the equipment here,” he said.
Mr Namulambe also called for intensive capacity building to acquaint staff with the use of modern machinery and ballot printing,” he said.
The ministry would recommend that some of the government printing employees are part of the group of printers for this year’s ballot papers so that they are aware of the required standards.
And speaking during the tour, Government Printers captain Joseph Simbeye told the minister that the printing department was at the moment unable to print ballot papers in colour until one of the new machines is installed with the right software.
Capt Simbeye said most of the machinery and equipment was in place but the location would require some refurbishment before the ballot papers are printed.
And Mr Namulambe said he was impressed with reconstruction works undertaken by Shanghai Construction of China at the new government complex buildings.
During a tour of the building, Mr Namulambe said the construction firm was working at good speed and the complete structures were neatly done.
“It is impressive that you have done this much despite all the difficulties. I am sure that even our stadiums will be complete in record time,” he said.
And Shanghai Construction Company chief quantity surveyor Wu Zheng Rong said the government complex wing would be completed five months ahead of schedule.
Mr Wu said the firm was able to achieve such quality works by combining Chinese and Zambian specifications.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
Come-on guys,sometimes we need to be a bit serious with issues,this is taking people too far. The issue of printing ballot papers locally has been going on since 2006.How long does it take to order and install new equipment,why cant we have the same equipment being used in South Africa, how long does it take to train people to print ballot papers.Politics aside;if we were to have this equipment,money would be saved in the long term,plenty of employment opportunities,some countries would even consider getting ballot papers from Zambia instead of South Africa.Why continue making South Africa richer when we can do almost anything they can do,what is it that they have that we dont have really,we have the resources,we have the manpower and we have the money,just why cant we do it ourselves
The money that has been spent on printing ballots as well as paying the printing company,transportation and security (if any) could probably pay for this equipment,get it installed and train people how to use it,its not something that South Africa holds the rights to such that no one else but them only can use.Capt Sembeye says the new equipment needs a new refurbished location and the right software,in this day and age,you cant buy equipmment pay for it and say you got the wrong software for it,call the supplier to instal,configure and test the damn machine.God why just why should we be put through all this,are we a cursed nation,whatever South Africa can do we can do it too,even better,but lo, we are fed lies.One Day,just One Day,God will listen to our cries.We cant go on like this
smoothcriminal i agree with you 100%,i always wonder why these leaders are quick to spend money in south africa and not use the same money to buy what the nation doesnt have
Well said Smoothcriminal @ 1 & 2. They have a very reason is simple – to provide room for rigging elections.
who is in charge of Government Printers?? is it the same Government refusing to use the Govt. printers?? Why are these Politicians in Govt so innocent where Reasoning is concerned?? I think pa Zambia kuti wafulungana mwee!!!!!
Every fo.o.l at Govt. Printers and in Govt. knew long before that this year 2011 we will have elections. Why they did not start to prepare in time, only God knows.
“Government Printers captain Joseph Simbeye told the minister that the printing department was at the moment unable to print ballot papers in colour until one of the new machines is installed with the right software.” This is all Rubbish!!! Buy that software and install it now! give me the specifications so that i order for you online and it will shipped within 3 days!!
The minister has no right to decide where ballot papers are to printed. It is up to ECZ to make safe the whole process of printing these papers. We cannot go on printing ballot papers abroad when these things are supposed to be part of our democratic culture. Only *****s and thugs work according to this minister’s sentiments. This also reflects their strong fear for a truly democratic nation where citizens are responsible not only in voting, but in printing their own ballot papers. Shame on RB and his thieves and thugs.
Hope there will be transparency and proper tendering on who does the printing. But there are already rumors printing has already started. Banda and Son’s have already taken care of things as usual
RB wants to rigg the elections we all know this shame on you what a president.
# 2
Smooth- i always enjoy reading yr blogs.Plse keep blogging.
Mwisho, why?? no wonder you are a sell out kachikala!!! *****!1
I am sure Namulambe doesn’t even understand IT governance, or what a simple computer actually does. I keep saying that we have 19th – mid-20th Century minds running a government into the 21st Century. This will never work. Let’s purge this jurassic park administration and bring enlightened leadership into place. I am not sure how this will be done as most so-called ‘young’ generation guys have already been tainted and are still heralding status quo of the 60s.
VJ dropped, vows to support oppostion!
Stup.id people, how would you fail to install a software? can that be the reason to go and do the work in South Africa. Mwanawasa bought those machines so that our ballot papers are printed in Zambia.
This is what happens when you have ignorant old people in government, they still have colonial minds in them, they always think that everything must be done abroad.
#1, South Africa have a government, we don’t, their government has some integrit, our so-called government does not.
There goes RB again this man really wants to be in power but if its time for him to go , he will go no matter what he tries to do .
RB stole so much money that its size haunts him from losing elections!! He is a slave of his own greed.
Just another reason to hound the MMD out. Smooth #1&2 you are spot-on. The Problem with the MMD is that they dont think strategically. They are happy with things that are so short term and do not bring integral developmnt to Zambia (e.g give away houses instead of tax mines to build houses). Have you read their manifesto and how it is so poor – it fails to identify a problem, articulate a solution and give specific achievements for the next 5 to 10 years. It is really sad that you have a party that has a lot of educated people but they are all so tired becos they are busy politicking and have stopped thinking for the future of mother Zambia. VOTE the MDD OUT this YEAR. They have become a DANGER to the Zambian society.
Capt. Simbeye please step aside and let serious people come in. How long has it taken from the time that equipment came into the country to today and how long does it take to order and instal a software?
In zambia, it appears there is a culture of buying wrong things. Remember microphones at the NCC?
i saw someone take back the money back to the donors. what is there reaction on this one. i dont know what is going to happen to this disfunctional equipment. Why was it not tested when it was installed to see whether it is workable and not when you have seven months before elections. if no one is disciplined on this one, we will know someone big has a hand in it.