The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will only resume the continuous voters’ registration exercise at its voter registration centre in Lusaka’s Show ground after all the pending by-elections have been conducted.
ECZ Public Relations Manager Chris Akufuna told ZANIS in Lusaka today that the centre did not register any voters this year due to the by-elections that were frequently taking place in the country.
Mr. Akufuna said ECZ suspended the registration of voters because the exercise cannot be simultaneously conducted with by-elections.
He said the continuous voter registration exercise will remain suspended until all the by-elections are conducted.
Mr Akufuna further said the centre was however open to solely provide voter education services to members of the public.
The voter registration exercise, which commenced last year, was suspended last December in order to facilitate holding of by-elections in various parts of the country.
Currently, there are pending by-elections in Vubwi, Malambo, Petauke, Zambezi west, Mkushi South, Katuba, Solwezi and Mulobezi constituencies.
ZANIS
That is good news and an assurance.
It was only after this suspension that we saw genuine voter’s choices – The 3 – 1 hammering of PF and the famous 9 – 1 Mkaika massacre. We also saw UPND grab its first seat in CB.
We still remember how fraudulently PF used the Voter-Reg formula for the Mufumbwe, Mpongwe, Kapiri and Livingstone bye elections.
We commend you ECZ for realizing you were driving Zambia into turmoil. Keep it up.
Since we live in an era of by-elections this statement is as good as saying there will never be continuous voter registration.