Electoral Commission of Zambia Director Priscilla Isaacs says opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) vice-president Canisius Banda will be summoned for alleging that ballot papers meant to disadvantage his party were being printed.
Speaking to journalists in Johannesburg this afternoon, Ms Isaacs said irresponsible statements by politicians have the potential to cause chaos as well as discourage people from voting.
She said the ECZ will not take kindly to politicians issuing misleading statements to the nation and summoned the UPND vice president so that he can disclose his source of information.
“We have taken great exception to the statement by Dr Cansius Banda and as the Commission we will soon summon him so that he can tell us his source of information.
“It is very disheartening for people to make misleading statements. And what they don’t know is that such statements can even work against them because they have the potential to discourage voters,” she said.
Ms Isaacs assured the nation that there will be no interference in the production and transportation of ballot papers from South Africa to Zambia in the course of next week.
She said in order to enhance transparency, the ECZ has allowed political parties to monitor the printing process in Johannesburg untill the ballot papers are dispatched to the airport enroute to Lusaka while arrangements were already in place for other representatives to receive the ballot papers in Lusaka.
Ms Issacs urged the political parties and civil society organisations to take advantage of ECZ’s facilitation by monitoring the process with keen interest.
“The onus is now on the political parties and civil society to monitor the process throughout,” she said.
The ECZ Director also disclosed that the Commission has contracted the Zambia Air Force to air-lift ballot papers to areas that cannot be accessed by road because of the rains.
She said the Commission will soon advise political parties on the areas that would require air lifting of ballot papers.
During a press briefing in Lusaka last Wednesday Dr Banda alleged that his party had information that ballot papers with the ability to fade off ink marks were being printed to be distributed to UPND strongholds.
Zambia goes to the polls on January 20 to elect a president following the death of President Michael Sata in October last year.
stupid Canisuis Banda! meanwhile ifintu ni lungu
Guy Scott is the future; black people cannot run a country; give us your companies; we shall hire u; pay u peanuts and make a killing of a profit when exporting minerals………white people and indians rock : )
BUMP sense into that useless bush doctor.
Ifintu ni lungu
Mu Bemba ngu Satani , go to Muchinga at your own peril !!!
“The onus is now on the political parties and civil society to monitor the process throughout,” Says ECZ.
With such a statement and you think people can trust ECZ?! The onus is not on political parties but ECZ to run credible elections.
Opposition parties should make sure that they`ve a list of all areas that will be serviced by ZAF, and number of ballot papers to these areas, and political parties should`ve representatives when transporting ballot boxes to rural areas.
NO ,NO NO, DON’T USE ZAF PLANES TO AIR LIFT THE BALLOT BOXES FROM AREAS INACCESSIBLE BY ROAD.THEY WILL BE EXCHANGED UNLESS THE COUNTING IS DONE AT THE POLLING STATIONS OF THE BALLOT BOXES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY OPPOSITION ELECTION MONITORS
I URGE ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES TO REFUSE TO ENDORSE THAT ARRANGEMENT
Bunda bwa chunsu
Summon the man with unshaven beards and moustache. If the guy can have such a unkempt appearance on the face what of in areas where only his loved one sees ? Banda is a let down.
What UPND has resorted to are preludes to post election violence after realizing a pending humiliating defeat. Unless HH has managed to get new voters if any making them ready to vote for him in large numbers which is practically unattainable, EL is headed for a run away victory leaving HH with a more humiliated forth time crash. I’m following the campaigns trails of all foot soldiers with keen interest. EL is locking his victory in Northern, Luapula, Muchinga, Eastern, Copperbelt and Lusaka. I have just come from Mukaika heading tonight heading to Mpika. In Lusaka I can be very precise on where HH is going to take the largest humiliating rejection among the common man.
Cut Banda’s umunsu, obviously his brain is obscured by all that unnecessary hair! I don’t even want to imagine his armpits and ntwenu!
@Senior citizens, so what are your foot soldiers saying about the price of mealie meal? Isn’t the lack of answers leading others to perform desperate acts of attacking those with a message. Don’t envy PF foot soldiers – they are being grilled by electorates.
-Lying about illness of the late
-high prices of mealie meal
– fuel prices
-donchi kubeba slogan and it’s effects.
Awe chumi.
Viva #FlightHH2015
The burden of proof is on ECZ to reassure the Zambians that this election is not going to be subjected to dirt rigging. It is a dirt political culture we are yet to recover from. The fact is, rigging makes democracy a sham.
i have just come back from Zambia on a fact finding mission…. lungu cant and wont win,,, sivintu!,, even Steven masumba is planning to deflect from PF, claiming that PF is number one violence and corruption…
@Nostradamus… ba GBM is sending his regards to you from his new UPND family,, i was supprise mwe,,, ba GBM can speak tonga
When we say UPND is showing signs of extreme desperation, the usual “empty tins” shout out the loudest noises in condemning us and calling us haters.
But the truth is, we are simply being objective and calling a spade a spade – and not a big spoon…
ECZ don’t be biased okay ,also tell the police to arrest Kampyongo and that stupid DC for Chinsali,no way a stupid katondo riffraff of an MP should yap open his stinking mouth that UPND should have sought permission from him,gosh who is he by the way .
Please educate these dull politicians they are lucky they won because of Sataz name .
Chris Akufuna must be warned as well not to be meeting Mulenga Sata and other PF officials late in the night.
Ngosa Syambukula why a minister going to oversee the printing guys we know PF what they are trying to do.
PF cadres must be warned okay .
ECZ AGAIN WE SAY DONT BE BIASED ZAMBIA IS NOT PF ALONE >
LET THE ELECTIONS BE FAIR AND NEUTRAL >
THE BEST MAN SHOULD WIN WITH INTEGRITY
Canicius Banda may cost us elections. His behavior and looks fits him as PF.
But we can’t afford to fire him, and loose that 1 vote.
canisius banda, imwefu kwati ichinena cha HH
@mbobuli just be careful what you write hiding behind social media. A student in Kenya was fished out and jailed 2 years for insulting the president just like you are doing. Let’s debate issues that will help govern our country better without using hate speech and insults.
Mbomubli & your PF thugs, keep your dirty behaviour away from HH. Just 16 days left and you be insulting yourself.
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@Ze Begzod Azizova, kitwe, Please stop ubupuba.
even this tym we will vote on tribal lines which was started by UPND,for anyone to tell me not to vote on tribal lines is wasting his time, the damage has already been done by these UPND imbeciles and their ka president…..
@ 5 MBOBULI
You are encouraged to vote along tribal lines. You will still lose. Zambians are no longer a collection of warring tribes. They are a nation. Your backward thinking is out of step.
This is not the first we hear these stories, way back when sata was in oppositions, people used to rig, Isaac, you don’t know this, it has been going on for long time, better to talk about it , so that so with intensions of rigging will not do it.expose them, they intend to do so.
NO ,NO NO, DON’T USE ZAF PLANES TO AIR LIFT THE BALLOT BOXES FROM AREAS INACCESSIBLE BY ROAD.THEY WILL BE EXCHANGED UNLESS THE COUNTING IS DONE AT THE POLLING STATIONS OF THE BALLOT BOXES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY OPPOSITION ELECTION MONITORS
I URGE ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES TO REFUSE TO ENDORSE THAT ARRANGEMENT
ea-program-ifintu ni lungu……….!
Dr. Banda, go in and explain yourself and raise your concerns to understand the way the system shall function. Then make sure all the loose ends are tied that no rigging can take place. This is a golden opportunity you have been offered.
Opportunity entails looking at what is positive in the situation LIFE has presented to you.
NO ,NO NO, DON’T USE ZAF PLANES TO AIR LIFT THE BALLOT BOXES FROM AREAS INACCESSIBLE BY ROAD.THEY WILL BE EXCHANGED UNLESS THE COUNTING IS DONE AT THE POLLING STATIONS OF THE BALLOT BOXES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY OPPOSITION ELECTION MONITORS
I URGE ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES TO REFUSE TO ENDORSE THAT ARRANGEMENT
@Pretty
Didn’t see this post, but I’ve echoed what you say in a post below. Completely agree with you.
“The onus is now on the political parties and civil society to monitor the process throughout,” Says ECZ.
With such a statement and you think people can trust ECZ?! The onus is not on political parties but ECZ to run credible elections.
Opposition parties should make sure that they`ve a list of all areas that will be serviced by ZAF, and number of ballot papers to these areas, and political parties should`ve representatives when transporting ballot boxes to rural areas.
Ba Lungu, tapali ifyo bali, ifwe ni flight HH, fye.
Good let this unethical Banda exculpate itself. Its better to lose with respect than no bupuba.
Remember Lungu is in stae house on 21 January.
Peace and Prosperity to Mother Zambia.
NO ,NO NO, DON’T USE ZAF PLANES TO AIR LIFT THE BALLOT BOXES FROM AREAS INACCESSIBLE BY ROAD.THEY WILL BE EXCHANGED UNLESS THE COUNTING IS DONE AT THE POLLING STATIONS OR THE BALLOT BOXES ARE ACCOMPANIED BY OPPOSITION ELECTION MONITORS
I URGE ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES TO REFUSE TO ENDORSE THAT ARRANGEMENT
NO ,NO NO, DON’T USE ZAF PLANES TO AIR LIFT THE BALLOT BOXES FROM AREAS INACCESSIBLE BY ROAD.
THAT IS A RECIPE FOR RIGGING.
I URGE ALL OPPOSITION PARTIES TO REFUSE TO ENDORSE THAT ARRANGEMENT.LET THEM SPONSOR THE HELICOPTERS THEY ARE USING DURING CAMPAIGNS NOW TO AIR LIFT THE BALLOT BOXES.
DON’T SAY YOU WERE NEVER WARNED.
@judgement day
My thoughts exactly. A place inaccessible to anyone except the PF-controlled ZAF?
It’s laughable Ms. Isaacs, and you know it.
This is the result of uncoordinated communication for external audiences and lack of patience and good judgement. God has the last say but Dr. Canisius Banda should step down from his post but remain a party member on moral grounds,
Pretty go and help your doc
And digest over the four options:
A)Current law maker( mp for chawama)
Current justice minister
Current defence minister
Current PF president.
B) Current Upnd president
C) Current mmd president
D) Current fdd president
@sos, we know that this is about survival for you. You think you will still have a job if EL wins.
Sorry to say this but HH is winning with or without endorsements. God has spoken.
Viva #FlightHH2015.
ECZ has no legal authority to summon anyone. if ECZ are aggrieved let them go to court! Dull ECZ Director!
I think the dull one is the one who said the portion of the ballot papers where UPND President is will fade if marked.
They have the right to summon any body in connection with election campaign malpractice. ECZ even have powers to bar any body from taking part in an election . Read the Electoral Act before you blog, baba. we will not allow them to bar HH from taking part in the elections, we want to beat him proper and square.
2015 IS FOR ECL
2016 ECL NAFUTI
As a UPND support I think Bandas statement was reckless. He should retract it if he cannot prove it.
He can however maintain the claim of violence against the Panga Family because it is true.
Please ECZ summon also PF for the two cases of violence and intimidation on Friday.
tell me HH cinshi echo ali apart from being one of the guys who privatised mines in the copperbelt and getting rich according to zambian standard….
ea-program-EL
He is what he is. Get over it.
Viva #FlightHH2015.
Next, Loose Cannon alias Dr Canissius Banda will allege that the ballots were switched with fake ones in mid-air between Johannesburg and Lusaka.
I have no issues with UPND but I think that this loose cannon would make a brilliant space explorer!
True, Lungu is still minister of Defence, the ZAF Commander reports to him. Counting must be done at polling station and each political party must remain with a certified copy of the results. There is no guarrantee the police will manage to maintain law and order on this day to allow political parties reps to pass through the thugs to board the chopper.
@ 19 Dimakwenda
That speaks volumes. EL is a political cut throat. We have already seen it in PF itself. And why must it not concern us when he is already in consultation with Nigeria’s Boko Haram? Or is ECZ just being naïve?
Swebo kuno kumapanza tatuyandi HH naba Doc Banda ,Edgar Lungu ngo tuyanda kwamana…
Koleka mambila mbali webo Mwami Mapanza. Mwami Puta waka mutambula mwanaachundu amanza obilo.
Exactly, which Mapanza are you talking about here? Don’t fool yourself, perhaps you have chosen to vote for Lungu as an individual but please do not speak in plural and mislead people. What a dull person you are?
twalumba ba chief PUTA
2015 ECL KWAMANA
2016 ECL NAFUTI
Good. Now you have an opportunity and a platform to express all your misgivings Mr. Banda.
Use it, and use it well.
@Jessie
Trying to pre-empt the possibility of rigging in the election, by making false allegations, giving false promises and printing amazing seditious material in ZWD; is an election strategy of UPND; BUT not socially acceptable behaviour. Banda is being summoned to provide the evidence backing his allegations. Since all political parties and other independent observers have already refuted his claims, what do you suggests he uses the ‘platform’ for? Do you not realise he is being summoned to be disciplined?
Never before has a political party/politician been so nakedly hungry and exhibited such open pathological lies and passive aggression as HH and UPND.
What type of delusional thinking came up with the fading marks on voting cards which then slid over to an opponents?
@Patriot
Do you not think that this is important enough to warrant further proof or disproof of what Mr. Banda has stated? I’m sure he has reason for his statement.
Also ECZ in their capacity as watchdog should not take on the role of ‘disciplinarian’ as you suggest, but rather augur transparency and listen to the concerns expressed.
They simply have to dispel point by point and further postulate why the claims are not correct. Explain the ink used, what makes it impossible for fading ink to be used in the manner described…..etc
Otherwise they could simply say they will investigate the possibility of rigging this way and tell the measures they will take to circumvent this.
Don’t muzzle the opposition and relegate anything they say to their being passive aggressive or…
ECZ, please be serious about theses elections… ZAF if PF! So hw can you allow the to transport ballot papers? Opposition, please do not accept this arrangement.
Unlike all the other presidential candidates in the election, Edgar Lungu is not free standing. There is a good reason he has decided not to resign his portfolio as minister of Defense. Is he not the Minister of Justice too? Where on earth have you seen that? What fairness is that? The play field is clearly not level at this stage.
Naimwe ba MBOBULI, let’s campaign sensibly. The issues of privatization of the mines have nothing to do with HH.
The collapse of the mines rests squarely on the shoulders of KK and UNIP. He created ZCCM with noble objectives. Then he destroyed it himself by not letting it run on business principles. Instead he used it for political patronage and to reward his cadres. By the time MMD was coming into power in 1991 the Zambian economy was on its knees ready and desperate to sell its mines to any bidder with a dollar or rupee.
These is no young Zambian living today who shares the blame for UNIP’s failed economic policies, least of all HH, Edgar, Edith or Elias Chipimo. Maybe ask UNIP’s Tilyenji, he looks old enough to ember what his dad did with the economy. Oh sorry Tily, I got…
Abash intimidation! Concerns of rigging are not new and not out of order! Who can stand up and swear that rigging of elections has never ever taken place in this country? I’m also concerned with the possibility of rigging. PF in the opposition had similar concerns! Political Monitors, while trusting what ECZ is saying, they should just be alert. Instead of intimidating people ECZ should just assure us that the entire process is transparent and verifiable and everything before, during and after the elections can be validated! Stop intimidating and harassing Dr. Canisius Banda! Just convince UPND and the other opposition parties that the process is verifiable!
I think UPND were trying to pre-empt the possibility of rigging in the election. It is clear making false allegations, giving false promises and printing amazing seditious material in ZWD; is an election strategy of UPND.
Never before has a political party/politician been so nakedly hungry and exhibited such open pathological lies and passive aggression as HH and UPND.
UPND, Is full of unpalatable individuals. It is almost the incarnation of pure evil. No wonder citizens call UPND Satanists. You only have to read the wild, vicious responses on this site by UPND to understand that most of them need a spell in a Mental health facility!
What type of delusional thinking came up with the fading marks on voting cards which then slid over to an opponents? Is that normal thinking?
OK just too many Allegations from UPND and picking a fight with ECZ is just unhelpful. Don’t forget if it wasn’t for ECZ’s resolute stance Rupiah Banda could have rigged the elections hands down in 2011. In this election, I believe UPND have a chance and expect them to show empathy and readiness to lead. I have heard Guy Scott apologise for silly comments from father chomba on behalf of PF. I have heard Edgar Lungu condemn fortunate happenings in Shiwangandu on behalf of PF. I bet you a dime you wont hear HH apologising to Zambians about silly Cornelius Banda’s comments on behalf of UPND. People can observe leadership and they don’t have to be pipe fed.
We never hear apologies from HH and his gang.
The man is pure evil personified! He really is a nasty little man. His tactics of abusing his fellow candidates on ZWD is proof positive of his aggressive and therefore unsuitable character for Leadership.
Can you imagine how people would suffer under HH and his henchmen type of supporters?
@ 27.1 Patriot Abroad
What has happened to the etiquette of integrity you have been known by on this blog for a long time now? Why are you assuming that HH is ZWD and ZWD is HH? Why must HH apologize on behalf of ZWD? And that blazing language you are using! I believe you can do a lot better than that dull PF presidential candidate, EL, who has sold his brain to liquor. Please try not to spoil our New Year. It is too early to do so.
@Patriot Abroad
This kind of language is not typical of your discourse here on LT. Despite us being in opposite camps, you’ve never before joined the ‘base’ kind of supporters.
“The man is pure evil personified! ” is atypical from you.
What’s happened?
It is wrong altogether for Lungu to vie for plot one when he’s still controlling the vital ministries of the government. We have seen how he has selfishly used the judicial now the suspicion is he might use the defence. Our only hope is in God, as their plans are not God’s.
Katondo boys where are you?????
@Dinga Dinga
shhhhhhhh! Don’t wake the beast!
Insulting others is not a sign of maturity or intelligence. At the end of the day we are all Zambians. I love both HH and EL as human beings. I respect both of them and I will accept whoever emerges as President.
UPND ,mwali nyela mubunga. Do not even vote ,if you vote ,vote a winning man. E L.
“IFINTU NI LUNGU”.17 DAYS TO GO BEFORE EDGAR LUNGU ENTERS STATE HOUSE AS ZAMBIA’S 6TH PRESIDENT!epo chizamibaba bantu ba Hakaivotela Humwine!GO PF GO!
@Eddy
It may surprise you, but you are correct that were Mr. Lungu to ‘Enter State house’ I would cry.
I would definitely cry for my country and an opportunity lost. Why do you think that crying about such a terrible outcome is a secret or embarrassing or an insult?
So once and for all, YES I WOULD CRY.
Ba doctor ba fiko…….ukulamba ba vice president ba upnd…na ba tata ba M ulyokela efilyako kubusaka.
Canisius lyakumwando , tamwamona ifiko ne chunsu! Mudala kwashala fye ukusotola bombasa. You will see nga balusa Ikaba ni baskopo. Very styopeti
its not all that glitters is gold, Dr please
ECZ have a responsibility to allay everyone’s anxieties about the fairness of elections. If someone raises a concern,it’s only reasonable to reassure them that the elections will be free and fair rather than threatening them. Rigging of elections is a major concern everywhere and it will be un-natural for opposition parties not to question whether the elections will be free or not. If the ruling party failed to hold free and fair elections within their own party, what guarantee is there that the Country-wide elections will be free? Moreover,all systems in Zambia are compromised. Look at the disjointed high court and how the messed up one candidate-Sampa! So ECZ, as a free and reasonable organisation,please reassure the nation,rather than threatening Banda who represents us.
@Appleseed
Thank you for articulating this so well.