The Electoral Commission of Zambia has maintained that it will allow the use of mobile cell phones inside the polling stations.
Organisations such as the MISA Zambia and Transparency International Zambia have written to the Commission to raise objections over
the decision to ban the use of mobile phones inside the polling stations.
But ECZ Spokesman Chris Akufuna explained that the ban is aimed at safeguarding the integrity and transparency of the electoral process.
Mr Akufuna said the Commission will however allow people to use their mobile phones outside the polling stations.
“What we are trying to do is to safeguard the process. Imagine having people answering calls inside the polling booths. That can cause chaos. People will be allowed to carry their phones inside the polling stations but they will not be allowed to use them,” Mr Akufuna said.
“We don’t want people using their phones to send whats ups of what is happening inside the polling stations,” he said.
He also explained that Journalists will not be allowed to do live cross overs inside the polling station saying those intending to file reports back to their newsrooms will be asked to do so outside the polling station.
This political party, ECZ, is in alliance with PF party, we know this open secret.
IT IS NOT A CREDIBLE REASON. NO WAY ELSE IN THE WORLD ARE PEOPLE NOT TO USE CELL PHONES WHILST VOTING. EVERYTHING ECZ IS DOING STINKS OF CORRUPTION. IF THE ACC WAS REALLY TRANSPARENT THEN ECZ AS A WHOLE SHOULD BE INVESTIGATED.
Listen to what ECZ is saying..You will be allowed to use your phones outside the poling stations. So what u do is go with a note book where to write results or incidences then u can go out and send the information at your convenience. To me this makes sence. Phones ringing and people talking to their wives and girl freinds any how will just creat confusions. UPND cadres are just stuupid.
So any evidence of corruption, vote rigging and other malpractices will not be captured, and then they will ask for evidence when results are petitioned. I do not understand the reasoning from ECZ. Next, you will have to vote in silence, because you will disturb other voters who are thinking whom to vote for! Let us just do a head count. My suggestion is simple. Put large portraits of candidates and people should lineup in front of their preferred candidate’s potrait and ECZ can do a head count. Problem solved! QED
ECZ officers know that if they don’t go along with PF and their scheme to rig the election they will surely lose their jobs if another party won the election, so they are making sure that PF wins the elections at whatever cost. they simply don’t care what the electorate feel! it is a question of, “sebana wikute”.
What’s all this fuss about the usage of phones in side the polling station? Lets not argue for the sake of it just because we are in opposition. ECZ is right for the simple reasons we don’t use phones in Bank Halls, during Church gatherings etc. We want order during voting.
Marc u are on the point not even over a meal at hom e and the list wen having sex grow up and have manners you kachemas