Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services Chishimba Kambwili has said that the impression created by the oppostion that the PF Government made the decision to print Ballot papers in Dubai is wrong.
In a statement released to the media, Mr Kambwili, who is also Government Chief Spokesperson, said that Electoral Commision independently made the decision as an autonomous body whose decisions are not amenable to influence from the Executive.
Below is the full statement
Government would like to correct the impression being created by the opposition in The Post that it has made a decision to print ballot papers for this year’s presidential and general elections in Dubai.
Government would like to put it on record that it does not run the operations of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) who are mandated to print ballot papers.
The ECZ is an autonomous body whose decisions are not amenable to influence from the Executive, and they make independent decisions as enshrined in the Republican Constitution.
The allegations by the opposition are patently false, completely devoid of the truth, and should be dismissed with the contempt they deserve.
Government is concerned that the opposition have taken to uttering misleading statements aimed at pitting the citizens against their Government and that some of these opposition leaders are experienced people who have served in Government before.
In particular, Government is disappointed that former chairman of the Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee (PAC) Mr Charles Milupi is the source of such misleading statements.
While Government welcomes debate on any important national issue, Government expects constructive discourse and not unfounded claims by the opposition whose sole purpose is to alarm citizens.
It is clear from the allegations being peddled by the opposition that they would like to use these falsehoods to dispute the outcome of elections on August 11, 2016.
Government would like to advise the media outlets to exercise caution and avoid inflammatory statements which have the potential to cause chaos.
Hon. Chishimba Kambwili, MP
MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTNG SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON
13th April, 2016
Kambwili? are you talking to children below 5 years or what? Who doesnt kno that the PF govt has influence on the ECZ? Is this also not a clear sign that you want by all means to rig election results by printing ballots which are already marked?
@Luchembe; Yes, he is talking to HH. The notorious under 5.
Why is it not ECZ defending their choice if PF is not involved?
This is when you know that UPND is not sure of themselves. HH know has lost his elections
GBM is emphatically saying we cannot win without building alliances.
HH is with the view from his fake polls that he will win in the first round.
Now to confuse Zambian he wants to dispute results in August.
In the mean time.. It has now been confirmed that GBM has no Grade 12 Certificate. He is challenging Lungu to produce one when he GBM knows he has nothing to show to cover is f**lishnes
HH is really stuck for a running mate… Dr Banda us really damaged for a running mate.
But ba PF zoona,,,, they can manage to print campaign material and fail print simple ballot papers,,, most shocking now!! they want ISIS to print their ballots,,, no wonder there a lot of terrorist attacks in Zambia from PF
Under five politics,lie left right and center…………they have run out of promises to make, cause what they are promising PF has/is already implimenting………pwa ha ha ha. Viva ECL.
This is SAD reading.
So ECZ can go to print ballot papers in South Sudan without informing The Attorney General’s office, or even the Ministry of Home Affairs and Justice?
Wow… I support those who are demadinf to PF go
Bika pressure. Smoke out these crooks. ECZ has called for objections from stakeholders, why is Chimbwili panicking.
That’s PF and the brains behind it – clever, albeit not intelligent.
Minister Kampwimpwi
The Silverback talks tosh as usual.
As usual, PF & Kambwili are in denial, quick to defend the indefensible is lack of reasoning to the cost analysis.
PF pledged to world in 2011 that, “once in power, PF govt will be printing ballot papers locally” instead of the near South Africa.
Now ECZ “decides” ~told by PF executives~ to print them in Dubai?
ECZ must engage all opposition political parties & govt in making such vital decisions.
5 years PF in power have pathetically failed with ECZ to print the ballots in Zambia. This Dubai rigging is a flip flop Ba Kambwili & ECZ is compromised by being PF cadres mediocrity to be rewarded for CJ or Directorial debuts.
What is true is the opposite of what Ba Kambwili is dreaming, visionless dreams. PF & ECZ caught without clothes.
Pressure on PF.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
But this the most hopeless government ever.Anyway we are now counting the time left.3 months left
you should have kept quiet sir.
Enough said. Let the toothless kids like Hakainde and Milupi bark like wimps. Our mission is just to deliver for the people who voted and continue to vote for us. Viva PF 2016. The opposition have no message this year and beyond.
stan.yoko
Let them be printed in Dubai ,they have already concede defeat.
shame!!!! Shame !!! Shame,is someone telling me that after 50 years of independence we can’t Handle elections ???? It’s so embarrassing to be a Zambian sometimes,what is so difficult with printing those things here????and you say you are serious with creating employment,if you put that USD30m,or 40m and give it to Zambian printers not only are we going to create so many jobs but we shall also save on forex.and grow the economy ,simple economics
Comment: SouthAfrica is better place for printing, easy for monitoring and cost effectively for the opposition parties.
HAVE FORGOTTEN THAT UPND CRIED FOWL WHEN LAST THEY WHERE PRINTED IN SOUTH AFRICA? IT HASN’T EVEN TAKEN YEARS BUT ONLY ONE. YOU UNDER 5s HAVE VERY POOR MEMORIES.
OK as opposition twakani duboius dubai…Now as govenment are suppoting dubai selection???????????????
Hon. Kashimba Nimbwili your response alone speaks volumes about this whole thing…… PF it’s high time you conceded that you have run your race and failed
You want to print ballot papers in Dubai? What a shame! This is very embarrassing for this country. Where is our government printers?
Priscilla Isaac Is under PF and Kelvin Fube Bwalya plus Lungu. Hence ECZ is PRISCILLA ISAAC is under PF .
After you have put cadres there you expect people to believe that!!
It’s really strange PF decided to print ballot papers in Dubai. What’s wrong with South Africa if we can’t print in Zambia? Please don’t take the peace we enjoy for granted. Kambwili nabanobe muicindike sana
Kambwili my question to you is: who promised us that when you(PF) come to power Ballot papers will be printed locally. Was it the ECZ or you(PF)?
PF Government has no control over ECZ my foot, What do they take the people of Zambia for and why go all that far when there are companies in SA who have done this before.
If the sitting government is in control of ECZ, why did MMD under Banda lose to PF?
Because the then ECZ chief was pro-PF. She showed her true colours on Jan 20. She is Chief Justice now.
Deceptive ECZ once again! You must be ashamed of yourselves. Let democracy be democracy. This, in Zambia, is something else – a different animal. Why trouble people to register to vote, if all you do is plan on how to rig the next election?????
CAUGHT PANTS DOWN THINKING OF BRIBING SOUTH AFRICANS TO PRINT SECRETE BALLOT PAPERS AND CURIER THEM UPND CAUGHT PANTS DOWN
IN DUBAI YOU WILL NEED A VISA THERE HAVE CHANGED THE STRATERGY NOW FLOCKING TO UGANDA TO SEE HOW POSSIBLE TO HAVE PARRELL BALLOT PAPERS FOR SOUTHERN WESTERN AND NORTHEN UPND CANDLES AND BBM VERY DEPERATE TO DEFEAT LUNGU EVEN COATING UGANDAS
VISA BAKAMBA PA DUBAI AND SECURITY IS TIGHT IF CAUGHT LIKE THAT JOURNALIST
Its not a question of ECZ Independence or opposition lies. How can a country with approximately 70% of its citizens living below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) & 50% of these are extremely poor, can be exporting money like that to a country with 0% of its citizens living below the Poverty Datum Line (PDL) after 52 years. This is sad and how are you going to create jobs with this indisciplined parastals who are bent on exporting money every day instead of exporting goods and services? Are ECZ staff not Zambians to see this impact? Award the contract to Govt Printers finish, whether they print rubbish or black and white, its us Zambians who will be voting on those but not expensive voters from developed countries. Why does Auditor General audit Independent ECZ, if its untouchable?
Maybe ECZ will charter a UD$ plane for a holiday in Dubai!
That is the fashion with Lungu and PF!
EVERY ZAMBIAN WANTS TO GO TO DUBAI TO BUY THINGS WHY? UPND wants to be like sata and think they will win. Last year ballot papers were printed in south Africa did you win? its not about where ballots papers are printed but how majority voters fell about you
The ball is in ECZ court. Zambians have refused categorically to have the ballot papers printed in Dubai.
ECZ should now convene a meeting for all stake holders to agree who and where ballot papers should be printed. South Africa printed ballot papers for the last elections which were verified by representatives from all stake holders.
Look here HH, we have heard that before, but nobody has ever succeeded to stop the ECZ from procuring ballot printing from a place of their choice and elections gave come and gone. Who do you think you are? Don’t waste our time, if you want to boycott the elections by all means do so., we will not miss you. We have enough politicians in Zambia to take your place e.g Milupi, Kabimba, Cornelius Mweetwa the boxer from Choma, , Sampa, GBM, or even Dr Canissius……kikikikikiki
All of us are stakeholders you moron. Every action needs to be weighed, checked and balanced for the democracy to take effect. HH is running for office, that is who he is. Milupi is a party leader….both are stakeholders. Someone who cakls himself “Wise Head” is usually a damaged head.
Cornelius Mweetwa the boxer from Choma LOL
@20MunaDekhane, you will never agree as opposition politicians, that is why you are opposition. And who told you that you cannot be flown to Dubai on Emirates Air to go and witness the printing the way you did in RSA? Take it from me, whether you like it or not, whether Vernon Mwaanga likes it or not, ECZ is not an opposition or a ruling party, it is simply ECZ and it will procure the ballot papers from a place and company of its choice within approved tender procedures. Stop wasting your money campaigning and buying red berets if you intend to boycott the elections, for no one will pay attention to you guys, certainly not ECZ, PF, myself or other normall Zambians. Okay?
After what happened in Uganda I don’t think this is a right move. PF like controversy and bad decisions, now you are taking our money to fund ISIS and the Muslims and you call yourself a Christian nation.
Not long ago pf promised zambians that ballot papers will never be printed outside zambia whn you form government and now pf is in government why do u want to print ballot papers abroad? Its only that these politicians they have taken us zambians for granted they come and make false promise and we dont question them bt this time pf is gong to pay for so many false promises like the printng of ballot papers abroad for this mr kambwili you will not have my vote this time i dont condon liers
Let them be printed in Dubai so that we see how Dante and tekere will mount road blocks chasing every suspicious plane.
Loser HH will blame anything
Fat chance. Let’s cut through the nonsense. First, a leopard cannot change its spots, Nawakwi is still tainted by the Chiluba era of plunder where she played a key role, including the Carlington Maize stinking scum where she reaped billions from the deal at the expence of Zambians. So, what upright and straight thinking Zambian would be fooled by this ruse? None. The same argument still applies, whether or not Nawakwi bonks Lungu, HH or Muliokela, she like Godfrey Miyanda still remains damaged good to most Zambians. She could still control fools, and there aren’t a shortage of them in the Northern caucases. Political prostitutional acrobatics stink and must be reviled in these August polls.
Comment: kambwili ni ngwilabume. Just agree the mistaks which you made with your president lungu.
neckless dunderhead…shut up!!!
But the ecz chair, when she was asked to comment on that issue, she said they had hinted on awarding the tender to arabia but it is not yet concluded. Ecz is funded by grz, and can be influenced.