Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Printing ballot papers in Dubai will bring conflict-Lewis Mwape

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Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company
Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Company

The Zambia Council for Social Development has warned that intentions by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to use a Dubai firm to print ballot papers for the 2016 elections will bring conflict.

In a statement, Council Executive Director Lewis Mwape said if the decision is not rescinded, the Zambian people will question the motive and this may be the source of conflicts in the electoral system.

Mr Mwape said this must not be the issue of concern by genuine opposition Political Parties alone but that the PF as one of a major player in August 11 Elections must also be concerned if the choice by ECZ is not to its advantage.

He said elections must be genuine, indisputable and fair from basic important undertakings.

“The insistence and failure by government to guide the public institution to respond to the needs and aspirations of the public will raise alot of genuine suspicions which can be avoided. To this end, we appeal to the Commission Chairperson to plan and conduct credible elections for the sake of mother Zambia,” he said.

“Leaders must never be imposed on people through corrupt electoral systems but the system must be corrupt free and trustworthy by all stakeholders including our esteemed electorates.”
Mr Mwape said, “the mandate placed upon you as ECZ Chairperson by His Excellency the president is on behalf of the people of Zambia, rather than selfish allegiance to the Head of State. We demand that both yourself as Chairperson and the one who exercise the appointing authorities on behalf of the people ACT in the interest of the people.”

18 COMMENTS

  1. Now you cry babies. What do you think you would cry about if UPND accedentally won YET the papers were printed in Dubai ? Would there still be conflict ?

    • The last time I checked, ECZ was an autonomous institution insulated from Government matching orders. What has the institution’s independent busiiness decisions got to do with a ruling party? Should ECZ be working on terms of political parties threats of violence? How many partisan threats will ECZ respond to and become of its independence if it’s starts curving to every noise from political wilderness? About those planning violence, I would be shocked if such dreamers are not aware that they are signing their own death warranty. Zambians are never kind to anachists. Learn to politic with dreams of violence against fellow Zambians.

    • Senior Citizen, please get real. Where does the ECZ get its funding from? That alone negates any autonomy and if you think ECZ make decisions independent of government involvement then you are a senior dunderhead.

    • THE PROCEDURE USED TO IDENTIFY A PRINTING COMPANY IS WRONG. IF THE DUBAI COMPANY WAS FOUND TO BE THE BEST IN PRINTING THE BALLOT PAPERS ACCORDING TO ECZ UNDERSTANDING, THE NEXT PROCESS WAS TO FLOUT THIS COMPANY TO THE PUBLIC IN ORDER TO GET FEEDBACK ON WHETHER OR NOT ALL STAKE HOLDERS WERE COMFORTABLE WITH THE COMPANY. ONCE ALL STAKE HOLDERS ARE COMFORTABLE WITH THE COMPANY, THEN THAT’S WHEN ECZ AUTHORIZES IT TO GO AHEAD IN EXECUTING THE JOB. IF NOT THEN THE SECOND AND THIRD BIDDERS CAN BE FLOATED AS WELL UNTIL THE RIGHT COMPANY IS IDENTIFIED. THIS GIRL ISAACS HAS USED A WRONG PROCEDURE AND CAN THEREFORE NOT BE ALLOWED TO ENGAGE THIS CORRUPT DUBAI COMPANY. ANOTHER REASON ISAACS CHOSE THE DUBAI COMPANY IS TO USE THIS AS A SPRING BOARD FOR HER TO FREQUENT GOING TO DUBAI EVEN TO CATER FOR…

    • @Dudelove forget about this Senior Citizen. He is one of the dull senior citizens we have in Zambia. He uses his nose and not brains to think what a shame. If anything there is nothing senior about this chap

  2. Iwe #Chishimba Kandashian, most people know that UPND will win y the elections but the issue is that the company printing the papers can not be decided upon only by PF & the toothless ECZ led by Isaacs in dark corners. This is not how free and fair elections are conducted.

  3. We have full information about the Dubai deal.we shall spill it.Bwalya fube ,Chulu and isaacs should be carefull.The blood of Zambians which will spill because of rigging will be on your hands.I hope you will take responsibility of the out of the 2016 election.This is a serious warning.

    • RED BARRET.(Botswana Bees). Just shut your trap. Come and fight this ‘battle’ in Zambia and not hide behind some country you wanna call home. So you want ECZ to consult the Bantustan Party

  4. Life is precious. P isacc she. have to follow what the zambians want.we don’t have another Zambia.if she is a zambian then she will follow the cry of àll zambians as à mothet who knows how painful is to give birth. we dont want Zambia to be like some of African countries No . Zambia is à Christian Nation. hope ECZ will help the mother Zambia.

  5. I am not comfortable with the printing of ballot papers in South Africa because of the results of the previous elections in southern province. Like everyone was being taken to the polling station. Dubai is ok.

  6. At this point in time we should let ECZ do its work accordingly without any interference from anyone.We should not let anyone dictate terms to ECZ. What will happen if MMD also insist that Ballot papers should be printed in Tanzania?

  7. Mr Mwape, This Upnd Chaps Refused To Ve Ballot Papers Printed In Sputh Africa But Now That Ecz Decides To Ve Ballot Papers Printed Somewhere Else They Still Cry Like Babies, Let Ecz Do Its Work Proffessionally Without Any Political Interference, The Same Printing Company Brought Michael Sata In Office When He Was In Opposition But Upnd Is Crying Even Before Elections Ar Held, Be Brave En Face The Electorate Even If U Ve Already Lost. There Is No Need For Empty Threats En Shedding Of Blood.

  8. Imwe bamaka it’s not only UPND who is complaining, it’s every peace loving Zambian. When madam nawakwi complained is she UPND. Just be real pf and this ka Isaacs want to rig, but Zambians won’t allow that. Mwaba efinyo bafikala.

  9. Ba UPND mulifikopo, where does rigging take place? Is it at printing, voting or counting stage? I believe in all these stages UPND will be represented by its agents, unless you tell me that the agents will be sleeping. Let ECZ do their work and you concetrate on mobilising your party in your 3 provinces(strong holds).

  10. Ms Isaac says in terms of the law ECZ is independent and can select the printer on its own. If ECZ is independent is it independent to rig the elections in favour one particular Party? Which authority holds ECZ accountable? Surely political parties should have a say in the choice of the printer? Damaging allegations have been made against ECZ’s choice of the Dubai Printer. ECZ must investigate and find out if these allegations are true or false. We want peaceful elections this year and ECZ must deliver to the people of Zambia free,fair and credible elections. Period. Ms Isaac’s arrogant and confrontational approach to the allegations against the Dubai Printer is unhelpful and unfortunate.

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