Government says continuing the voter registration beyond February 29 would adversely affect the 2016 general elections time table.
Vice President Inonge Wina explained that continuing with the voter registration put the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in a position of not being able to certify the final register of voters by July 31, 2016.
Mrs. Wina however, said all eligible persons who will turn 18 years by July 31, this year and have their particulars appearing in the final register of voters will qualify to participate in the August 11 general elections.
The Vice President said this in parliament today when she issued a ministerial statement on the 2015/2016 voter registration exercise.
Mrs. Wina added that the provisional registers of voters is expected to be completed by 5th may, 2016 in readiness for inspection by members of the public from 15 to 21 may, while certification of the final register of voters would be done on 31July, 2016.
She regretted that the planned mobile voter registration which would have taken place for 14 days from 16th to 29th February, this year can no longer take place.
The Elections body registered about 1.7 million new voters as at December 13, 2015, representing 93.75 percent of the targeted figure.
Meanwhile, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has implored Zambians to register now as their will be no further extension of registration of voters after 29th February this year except at district and civic centres .
ECZ public relations manager Crispin Akufuna explained that the commission lacks funds to facilitate the extension of the mobile voter registration.
In a statement released to ZANIS in Lusaka today, Mr. Akufuna noted that any extension of the voter registration exercise would negatively impact on the already set election schedule.
To this effect, He added that consequently, the commission would not be able to certify the voters’ register by 31st July this year if it went ahead with continuous voter registration.
Mr. Akufuna pointed out that data of all the registered voters collected from the field has to be processed in readiness for the inspection of the provisional voters’ register.
The Elections body however assured the nation that voter registration will continue at all Districts Civic Centres until 29th February this year.
Mr Akufuna urged the general public to take advantage of the remaining two weeks from February 16 to 29 , this year to register as voters.
He said inspection of the provisional register for electorates will run for one week starting from 15th to 21st May this year.
This Liar of a mother, or mother of all liars – is now beyond her remit!! Your are the Executive arm, so it is NONE OF YOUR BUSINESS TO DETERMINE SO, BUT THE ECZ – why do you want to deny voters their inalienable right?????
Comment:vry ***** old woman
ECZ should in future use govt workers at minimal fee or no fee. since registrations are done in schools why not attaching one teacher who can only be given lunch or out of pocket allowance. police have done it when giving police reports on lost cards.
Seleni tu voteko, we have already registered. When I listen to all the BS on the news nothing brightens my day than looking at my NRC and voters card. My whole family and I are totally unavailable on 11 August 2016 I’ve even set my alarm for 04:30am already. We will be the 1st pips to vote at our polling station come he’ll or high water. Sikireti niku ballot booth……
We need to improve the security features of our NRCs so that we start using them as voters’ cards. Why should we be carrying so many cards in this age of biometrics and chip & pin.