Two Civil Society Organizations and one political party have dismissed an opinion poll that was released by Synovate research Company in Lusaka predicting victory for Republican President Rupiah Banda in the forthcoming general elections.

Anti Voter Apathy Project Executive Director Bonnie Tembo has told Qfm that Zambia has not reached a level of having credible opinion polls.

Mr. Tembo says opinion polls are mostly based on assumptions and may not represent a true reflection of the reality on the ground.

He has since urged Zambians not to be swayed by the findings of the Synovate opinion poll but wait for the 20th September poll which will determine who goes to plot one.

And Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director MacDonald Chipenzi has charged that people should not be discouraged by the opinion polls as they are carried out on a sample group of individuals.

Mr. Chipenzi has however advised political players to use the opinion poll to improve in areas where they are still lagging behind.

Meanwhile, National Restoration Party (NAREP) acting National Secretary Charles Mwenya has said his party is not moved by the Synovate findings as it is an opinion that anyone can express

QFM

7 COMMENTS

mHOSI kAL August 25, 2011 At 8:16 am

Their statistics were very misleading
mambala August 25, 2011 At 8:37 am

I also have one opinion poll which states that Dr Fred Mutesa will win the presidency by more than 53 %. he will be followed by Edith Nawakwi with 36% while Brig. Gen. Miyanda will have 11%. The rest will be shared be at the tail end with a dismal fractional percentage.
Flagrante Delicto August 25, 2011 At 8:49 am

The opinion poll would have been credible (Bonnie Tembo’s school of thought) had it predicted an outright victory for the PF leader any other apart from RB. I like Chipenzi’s summary that the results of the poll should be used by political players to improve in areas where their are still lagging behind. The opposition should improve on their weakest links and areas so that if another opinion poll is carried out based on the same parameters as the first one, maybe we can see a shift in numbers and balance. Otherwise and outright dismissal of the poll results will not do them any good.
Mashimba August 25, 2011 At 9:14 am

Sorry Bonnie Tembo but the boat is sinking, with or without opinion poll, MMD is winning.
Chenji August 25, 2011 At 9:20 am

Why emphasize so much on Opinion polls ba MMD this time, it means you are scared. Viva PF
Charlse MMD August 25, 2011 At 9:25 am

Zambians will always argue with opinions, when presented with facts they shall be quite.

When the 2006 and 2008 opinions polls reflected Sata was winning the polls which were just assumptions merely from a certain sample that was biased towards the obtained results. Everyone knows the Urban areas are always for the opposition and you conduct a research their expecting to get a different result will be next impossible.

Now its MMD in the lead with a certain research institution that is credible, only to be incredible. As opposition I expect a question on where the sample was picked from, and the criterion used to obtain that sample from the population.

Lets face it he has my vote so I support the opinion poll.
igwee wama igwee August 25, 2011 At 2:38 pm

opinion poll is just an opinion their is no need to celebrate ba MMD.i hope someone is not writing inauguration speech based on that because inchito ikalipo.