PRESIDENTIAL nominations for the August 11 tripartite elections have been set for June 6 to June 10, 2016, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said.
And the ECZ registered over 1.5 million new voters.
ECZ chairperson Esau Chulu said during a stakeholders’ meeting in Lusaka yesterday that all candidates should ensure that their school qualifications are properly certified by the Examinations Council of Zambia (ECZ).
“For now, we will be expecting people to file their Grade 12 certificates. We are going by the law. The ECZ will be responsible for verification and certification and they will be there to tell us what is the equivalent to a Grade 12 certificate,” Justice Chulu said.
He said supporters for presidential candidates will not be required to travel to Lusaka for verification but that this will be done at provincial centres where they will be screened.
He said the screening will be done based on the current voters’ roll because the provisional roll would not have been verified at the time that the nominations will be done.
“To help mitigate the cost that would have been borne by political parties by ferrying supporters to Lusaka, the commission will set up provincial offices that will receive the candidates’ registered supporters and the verification will be done there,” he said.
And Justice Chulu said the campaign period for the general elections will run from May 16 to August 10, and that Parliament is expected to be dissolved around May.
He said the new voters’ roll will be inspected and that certification of the voters’ register will take place on July 31.
The ECZ also said that it has recorded a total of 1,593,840 new voters of which 801,280 are female and 792,560 are male, representing 93 percent of the targeted 1.7 million new voters.
As of November 2014, there were 5,166,088 registered voters.
Justice Chulu said Southern and Lusaka provinces recorded more new voters, representing 117 percent and 106 percent of the targeted figure, respectively.
He said the current figures remain provisional until further verification of the register through removal of duplication, consideration of appeals and objections.
Justice Chulu noted that despite the closing of the mobile voter registration, the exercise has continued at the district level and that new voters will be given a seven-day ultimatum in which to verify their details before the final roll is published on July 31.
He added that the delimitation of six constituencies will begin in March and that the ECZ expects to receive submissions regarding the exercise during its district sittings.
This will increase the number of constituencies from 150 to 156.
The Ball is in motion!!
Benangu “Kuya bebele!!”
Yaya yaya the game begin now…Viva UPND and HH. No matter what PF says, UPND will win. Let’s now start having debates for real issue like the economy
The road to another round of victory for PF has just been paved. Conversely, the gloomy and dispirited upnd can only dream of forming govt.
They are in disarray and are impotent of any workable economic and development plans and programs.
In the run up to August, we will hear more of the same promises as we witnessed in 2015 by election. We were bombarded with absurd populist and utopian plans that totalled more than 205. These were to be implemented in one year. These plans could best be described as grand paranoia.
The best upnd and their HH can do is start writing their political obituary
ok! interesting!!! what do we do with Matero, siazonga and many other immediate vacant seats??,,,, thats why Zambia needs a good constitution not a lungu driven constitution
Justice Chulu said Southern and Lusaka provinces recorded more new voters, representing 117 percent and 106 percent of the targeted figure, respectively.
@Action Man: The learned judge is simply telling naive Zambians that he didnt expect many people in Southern province to interested in voting in this year so their targets were very low! How stupid could ECZ say this especially that they didnt even tell us their targets for each province! They’re a pack hyenas. VIVA UPND!
In fact there’s a serious omission in the constitution – any Zambian 18 years and older who’s registered to vote should be allowed to vote, but the 1000 supporters that each presidential candidates brings along when filing their nomination should also each have a Grade 12 Certificate!!!!!
I am glad that Lusaka Has also responded positively to the voter registration. Most of the Lusaka residents understand the real issues including economic factors that affect our country. These will resonate well with HH’s messages and are more likely to vote for him than Lungunomics or Chikwandanomics. Viva UPND and HH
Its now the right time to make the right choices so as to give the country a democratic and economic facelift. Beware of champions of idle talk and no actions. Vote wisely come August 11.
Akainde here comes PF to crush you to death. This is the end of your political career!!!
Watch the space.
I don’t trust politicians, but my mind is at ease with HH being voted into power this time. Lungu’s economic policies (which he doesn’t have) might create regional or national conflict if he continues to be in power for the next 5 years. I love my country, I love my people & all tribes but I fear for my people when it comes to decision making, especially the ones in rural areas.
The game is on let’s go Lungu, they are in trouble come August 11. We no opposition in Zambia.
We have no opposition in Zambia
YOU ARE LYING! OPPOSITION IS THERE. YOU ARE WONDERING WHY LUNGU AND HIS FELLOW CORRUPT MINIONS HAVE SLEEPLESS NIGHTS INCLUDING THIS CHILUFYA TAYALI OF TUMFWEKO? HH IS GIVING THEM SLEEPLESS NIGHTS BECAUSE ZAMBIANS HAVE ACCEPTED HIM AS THEIR NEXT PRESIDENT, EFFECTIVE 11 AUGUST. VIVA HH VIVA! VIVA UPND VIVA! ZAMBIA FORWARD.
Just see the writing on the wall…the under 5 burial has dawned… yakosa manje… How do you promise to cancel loans GRZ is giving to marketeers….that’s the waste cheap politicking I’ve ever seen…
HH this is your last chance to let someone else run for Presidential Elections under UPND ticket. If you want to remain with a thread of dignity, better you resign from UPND before August, 11th.
Its not about HH, its about the country and your children. HH and his family are well sorted out. How I wish Zambians can take a minute and think before voting.
It will be tricky for hh to be covered by public media because he has sued them. That issue will drag until after elections. So don’t cry foul of you are not covered because that’s what you wanted. Just call algezilla BBC Bloomberg to cover your rallies. Kikikik.
Ensure that there is no rigging. LUNGU MUST GO!! No more jokers and clowns to be running our great country
@wise commentator, rigging was in MMD. The past two elections were transparent. Why I say so, at every polling station each party had representatives there who monitored all the voting processes up to totaling centers. So where was the rigging done, at what point? If the rigging was there, then all the agents, monitors rigged the elections.
Man’s plans are not God’s plans don’t fool yourselves.
I think it is clear this year is for HH. Why do I say so:
(1) The going of matero MP renew the 2015 issues
(2) Little time to attend to load shedding
(3) Hi interest rates
(4) Falling kwacha
(5) No jobs
(6) No money in the peoples’ pockets
(7) Hate speeches directed to Tongas by PF
(8) Locking opposition through POA
The above will hit PF hardly , and so they have to work out a plan to revers the above as soon as possible.
and no fuel
The new constitution is spot on and favors the Patriotic Front. we are here to teach a lesson to some province who voted on tribal lines. This time its vengeance. Luapula, Northern, CB, Muchinga no go area for upnd. Dandy please make us proud again with a knew song. We shall embarrass upnd to the core. this time we are starting in May together. Under five ku clinic not state house. Kolopa Don Com. I sign off
Southerners did not vote on tribal lines. You people that say this just choose to give a blind eye to events preceding the elections
Tonga and southerns were called all manner of derogatory name
they were called Dogs and worse than chickens
such statements can make even the least alarmed person to think critically about a political movement. In Rwanda Tutsi were called cockroaches and then next they were being killed. We dont want that in Zambia so we are voting for a moderate positive group
And the ECZ registered over 1.5 million new voters. what will these new voters vote for? Continuity, when the price of mealie meal is K90, price of 2kg sugar is K30. or indeed Change, because the light at the end of the tunnel is not that of a train, but economic emancipation BY UPND.
PF HAS MEANT CONFUSION, TRIBALISM, FINGER POINTING, BICKERING, LOOTING, STEALING, PLUNDER, AND BLAME GAME EVER SINCE THEY CAME INTO POWER IN 2011. BELIEVE YOU ME, MOST OF THE NEW VOTERS ARE THE ENLIGHTENED YOUTHS AND THEY WANT TO VOTE FOR CHANGE! UPND IS THE ONLY PARTY WHICH IS PREPARED TO FORSTER DEVELOPMENT IN THE COUNTRY. UPND IS COMPOSED OF MEN AND WOMEN WHO WANT TO WORK FOR MOTHER ZAMBIA TO TRANSFORM IT INTO A COMPETITIVE AND PROGRESSIVE COUNTRY. WE ARE TIRED OF THIS BRAINLESS LUNGU.
PF continue being over confident like Goliath.The young David will strike like were list expect,this time victory is certain.HH will be 7th President of Zambia.Mark my word.
Vote ECL and PF on 11 August 2016
Viva ECL.
I thank You!
twalya again! twanya again! nega nega formula again! HH and UPND will get this by 70+1. Listening to Komboni radio yesterday, Lusaka province will be 60% UPND. and dont worry, once parliament is dissolved, ZNBC, Times of Zambia and Daily Mail will be liberated 90 days coverage is all that UPND needs from them. Yes the permanent secretaries will be there, but they know that their survival will now depend on their level of professionalism.
Elections!elections!Elections!elections!Elections!elections!the ball has started rolling.The beauty with God is that He knows the one who will be Zambian’s next president.He holds the future for our nation.He loves us as a nation despite our diferrences.Above all,He wants the best for our nation.I just pray that God will choose the next leader for us.He has been so gracious and will continue being so unto us.He is ever knowing.Our plans and our wishes are limited but He is ever knowing.He has plans to liberate us and to take us to higher heights.We are not bats,as a nation,but we are eagles that will mount with strength about tribalism,backwardness,poverty and diseases.Zambia will continue to be a beacon of hope and prosperity.
Pf have got Frank Bwalya who is finishing them off they can not see the damage he is causing, President Lungu does not even one day talk about economic issues the country is going through apart from insulting HH and tribal talk only a dependant will vote for PF because they do not understand the impart of suffering that Lungu has brought upon the people of Zambia
Is the learned justice chulu in Zambia or perhaps he has got dual citizenship and currently residing in Jupiter? Pf has already kick started the campaigns, the president had a public rally in choma a day ago, and has the learned justice also taken time to go up north, starting at the serenje tuta road Junction roads to luapula, muchinga and northern, pf has already started littering the place with cheap chitenje flags in markets, stations every little tree or pole they find, yet just a few weeks ago lusaka police was pulling down UPND chitenje flags and told the nation that it was not yet campaign period. I need serious ruling from the learned justice if it is in order for pf to do that, in the above mentioned areas.
Is it not just cool that the ECZ is working hand in hand with the ECZ…
May the game begin. HH is in dilema..weather to pic GBM and risk embrassment during nomination or pic Dr what…i forgot his name and risk losing the entire election…
This is calm before the storm.
What it means is that Lungu and his PF reckless party have four months of campaigning before others are allowed to start campaigning. That is not fair play.
PF RIGGING COMES IN AT;-
1.ANNOUNCING VOTES WHILE THE OTHER SIDE PEOPLE ARE STILL VOTING,
2. SCARING PEOPLE WITH BEATINGS
3. STRONG HOLDS FOR OPPOSITION PF COMES IN WITH FIGHTS
4. PF ZNBC BIAS COVERAGE
5. USAGE OF PROVOCATIVE LANGUAGE BY PF IN THE OPPOSITION STRONGHOLDS
6. PF POLICE RECRUITMENT OF LAST YEAR WILL MAKE VIOLENCE TO OPPOSITION
7. CONFUSING THE RETURNERS AND HAVING PF ECZ APPOINTEES
Why should ECZ use the voters roll for nominations from 6 – 10 June 2016 and then have it inspected on 31 July 2016.
In case the inspection reveals glaring anomalies then the nominations would have been a waste of resources. ECZ should have the inspection before the nominations. 🙁
It is very sad that alungu anabwela will be leaving office this year more sad because he never let go of dull advisers eg chimbwili and amos worse sad no benefits for alungu
Lungu is my best choice, i dream about him because he has brought new ideas, development even to provinces like western province where i come from. he has a vision for this country. look at roads, bridges, buildings, hospitals, constitution and first president to choose a woman as a vice president. HH chased Sikota Sakwiba, what will fail him chase GBM , Guy Scott etc non Tongas