THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has launched the voter registration exercise and has targeted to register 1.7 million new voters ahead of next year’s tripartite elections.
ECZ chairperson Esau Chulu said this will bring the number of registered voters to 6.8 million voters.
Justice Chulu said this in Lusaka yesterday after he launched the exercise and registered as a voter at Roma Girls’ Secondary School.
“This is a nationwide exercise which has started in designated centres in all districts country-wide,” Justice Chulu said.
He said the exercise is scheduled to go on until November 11, this year.
Justice Chulu said officers will spend 14 days at all the centres that have opened after which they will move to the next set of centres for another 14 days until all the registration centres are covered.
“The exercise will also be carried out at all district council offices from September 14 to March 31, next year,” he said.
Justice Chulu said ECZ has provided for any person who will turn 18 years before or on July 31 next year to be allowed to register as a voter as a way of capturing many people.
“Lost cards will also be replaced but a police report will be required and we have since asked for a waiver of fees for a police report in this regard,” Justice Chulu said.
Justice Chulu said the transfer of voters from one polling station to another will also be done as well as the removal from the system of those who have died.
He said ECZ is hopeful that more people will vote in next year’s elections considering the fact that the picture has not been very encouraging because the voter percent has been dropping from 70 percent in 2006 to 43 percent in January this year.
“I am calling upon everybody to come forward and register so that we can have a brighter picture for next year’s general elections,” Justice Chulu said.
And Justice Chulu said the ballot papers for Solwezi West and Lubansenshi constituencies arrived in the country on Sunday and are ready for inspection.
