Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) public relations officer Cris Akufuna said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that an estimated 5,600 newly-registered voters were missing from the provisional register.
Mr Akufuna said the anomaly, which was traced during the 10-day verification exercise of the register, represented about 0.3 per cent of the 1.69 million new voters recorded during the 2015/2016 voter registration exercise.
“Some districts reported missing voters from the 2016 provisional register of voters with an estimated 5,600 new registrations affected in the 12 districts.
The districts are Kapiri Mposhi, Itezhi-Tezhi, Lufwanyama, Chingola, Sinda, Nchelenge, Lusaka, Kaputa, Kabompo, Kasempa, Manyinga and Kalomo.
Mr Akufuna said preliminary reports from the districts countrywide indicated an average turnout of 30 per cent of eligible voters who turned up to inspect the register at the various polling stations.
“The short code *214# recorded more than 453,000 verifications while the ECZ website recorded more than 23,800 searches,” he said.
Mr Akufuna said some voters were found to be registered to vote at wrong polling stations and this was evidenced at six polling stations in Chisamba, Luanshya, Sinda and Chinsali districts.
He said the Commission was taking corrective measures to all the anomalies encountered during the verification exercise.
For each of the report of missing voters, Mr Akufuna said the ECZ would process records from back-up files and registration forms after which the affected individuals would be added to the register.
“For the voters registered in wrong polling stations, registration data from the affected kits is being analysed to resolve the issue.
“Errors for individual records were addressed by the inspection officers in the various polling stations and at the head office during the verification exercise,” Mr Akufuna said.
He also said the Commission was taking seriously a media report alleging that the provisional voters’ register contained entries of foreigners.
The report, which was being investigated by the police, further alleged that a named political party had facilitated the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) to foreigners in constituencies bordering Malawi, specifically Chadiza and Vubwi in Eastern Province.
“As a result of this report, the Commission has since written to political parties to submit information to assist with investigations in the matter.
“The Commission invites political parties to inspect the provisional register at its premises in this regard,” Mr Akufuna said.
why those districts?
ECZ can not be trusted. The award to print to Dubai company despite stakeholders concerns, registration of foreigners, pattern of results announcement….Esau et al are compromised!
UNO MWAKA VOTE WISE!THE ENTIRE TIME LUNGU HAS BEEN PRESIDENT HE HAS FAILED TO EVEN CLEAN UP UTH! HE WONT EVEN VISIT UTH SO HE CAN SEE FOR HIMSELF HOW BAD THINGS ARE?UNO MWAKA WE WANT CHANGE! REAL CHANGE! IT IS TIME TO VOTE FOR A GOVERNMENT THAT WILL TAKE CARE OF THE PROBLEMS AT UTH.UNO MWAKA KU CLEARNER!!!!!
ITS TIME TO CLEAN UP!!!
PF PANSE!!VIVA CHANGE
The report, which was being investigated by the police, further alleged that a named political party had facilitated the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) to foreigners in constituencies bordering Malawi, specifically Chadiza and Vubwi in Eastern Province…… Just be candid enough and say PF party
The so named party is PF!
PF is using the rotten ECZ to rig the elections by registering foreign nationals as voters in Zambia. This is the scheme PF connived with ECZ & to also print ballot papers in Dubai.
This corrupt scheme of ECZ & PF must be stopped by voting wisely for UPND & HH. Forward voting is what is required to kicking PF bandits out of power.
Viva UPND, Viva HH & Viva Forward.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
It’s not the voting that’s democracy; it’s the counting. ~Tom Stoppard, Jumpers
It is enough that the people know there was an election. The people who cast the votes decide nothing. The people who count the votes decide everything. Joseph
The purpose of an election is not to name the winner, it is to convince the losers that they lost. The winner rarely contests an election, the winner has little reason to investigate discrepancies. It is the looser that will always do this. Dan Wallach
On a lighter note, Elections are flawed and can’t be redeemed – it’s time to start choosing our representatives by lottery. Alexander Guerrero
Poseniko amano bane.
Zambians Vote with their Mouth and corrupt mind that’s the Problem. Vote with your mind and remember the price of Mealie meal.. Load shedding and all those Issues..
ECZ is messed up like PF.
Everything is wrong. Wrong ballot papers, wrong nomination fees. Wrong citizens on registers. Close it.
Vote EL chabe! Foget rejects who keep appearing & reappearing on the ballot! Reject hh, again & again!!!!!
Hakainde kontolola……..
Tayesa tatopa….
Talepela oKosa….
Talemanayo mayeso… kodi nku memosa?
Chino chaka voti Hakainde… for a better economy.
ECZ has been compromised. ECZ should also make sure that they verify all those who have been registered in the affected areas in the presence of all political player. Those who’ll not turn up for verification should not be allowed to vote.
ECZ is not in control of anything. Reliable sources tell us that ECZ is conducting these elections with directives from State House. As part of PF’s rigging process, Lungu directed the ballots be printed by his friends in Dubai and in HH perceived strongholds voters will be disenfranchised with their names missing on the voters roll on the Polling Day, foreigners have been registered in border areas specifically to vote for Lungu etc. The inspected voters roll will not be used on Polling Day. Expect lots of confusion on Polling Day all aimed at reducing HH”s votes in favour of ECL. HH is a marked man in this elections. As soon as voting is completed ECL will be declared the winner by Chulu and him and his Ministers will be sworn in office rapidly. ECL wants to win and this he will do by…
There is just too incompetence with ECZ. That number is too huge and can make a big difference in an election. If this is happening at this stage, what guarantee is their that results will not be omitted for counting. This revelation casts more doubt about the caliber of the electoral commission, elections are just around the corner and they must have cleared all these irregularities long time ago.
The number of registered voters is way too low for me for a country like Zambia. It seems the minority are going to determine who governs the country fro the five years. In my view, voting must be made compulsory for every Zambia residing in the country and they are of voting age. Other countries have done this and we can learn from them. Actually if Zambians and the system was credible all Zambians, living in and out of the country should be able to vote. The problem is the desperation to get into office by some dysfunctional politicians who perceive public office as a source of employment and a way to get rich quick. Putting stringent systems is very possible and we must be proud as a country to try this out. We may make mistakes but we can refine the processes.
Please new voters don’t for Edgar chakolwa Kaloba Wrungu he will shatter your dreams.
ECZ is trying to give you an update, but some “baby cry” bloggers from a certain party can’t even read the article; just because they’ve seen ECZ all they think of is rigging, MUKOSE BAMAMBALA
This is what one can expect from corrupt leaders. Zambia is plagued by these so called leaders aka thieves. They lack vision and that is why Zambia is not excelling on the world stage. During President Kaunda’s administration Zambia was manufacturing cars! Now Zambians are dependent on Japan for second hand cars! Even clothes manufacturing cannot be achieved in Zambia! Nurses uniforms were ordered from China! Unaccepatable! What is the fool from Lundazi doing! This Lungu is as corrupt as former scam like Mwanawasa. Thieves! Lungu has adopted a corrupt animal Shakafuswa as Mp for Katuba. Shakasatan is not respected by the majority of Lenje people. He has pocketed the money pot that was full before he assassinated the late mp. The roads in Katuba would have been complete if the late…
This is what one can expect from corrupt leaders. Zambia is plagued by these so called leaders aka thieves. They lack vision and that is why Zambia is not excelling on the world stage. During President Kaunda’s administration Zambia was manufacturing cars! Now Zambians are dependent on Japan for second hand cars! Even clothes manufacturing cannot be achieved in Zambia! Nurses uniforms were ordered from China! Unaccepatable! What is the fool from Lundazi doing! This Lungu is as corrupt as former scam like Mwanawasa. Thieves! Lungu has adopted a corrupt animal Shakafuswa as Mp for Katuba. Shakasatan is not respected by the majority of Lenje people. He has pocketed the money pot that was full before he assassinated the late mp. The roads in Katuba would have been complete if the late…
Sort out the mess caused by Rupiah Banda if PF is to survive the elections. PF is on its knees. Bwezani is finishing PF. PF will suffer defeat because of Mr Bwezani Banda. The old man is suppose to be a source of wisdom but he is now a source of confusions hence people are leaving PF. This is exactly what he did to MMD AND hence he conceded defeat.
Some political parties wanted to use the tribal tag in order to create a bad atmosphere between the bembas and the tongas. These two tribes have no basis to remain permanent enemies which their common enemy is capitalising on to achieve political ambitions. Lets show the people preaching tribalism that their tactics to divide and rule will not work on 11/08/2016.
It is unacceptable that Malawians must be registered to vote, but our election, but our people a re missing from the register. They must be fired, how will you feel if you go to the back only to find out 5000 is missing from your account, will you trust that bank? How can this institution fail to manage a mere two million but banks can manage billions & trions yet there boos can account for every penny. Imagine a bank saying we have lost money from people’s accounts but we do know how!
Lungu and the entire PF has let the nation down. The writing is on the wall, the exit door is open. I utterly fail to comprehend any serious minded zedian to vote for such failures and give them another mandate to rule for another 5 years. ECZ and Lungu are to something. How on earth can such mix-up happen for so many? And why in these particular district? How do you leave with yourself even if you win this time round? ECL do you have a conscious? Do your followers have a concious? ECZ how do you hope to function after all this? You registered non Zambians to vote just to help you return power. How long can you sink?
How low can you sink mwebantu?
I now agree that ECZ had nothing to do with the registration of foreign voters. The Department of National Registration is to blame. Do we really love this country? An NRC is an important document whose issuance process must be thoroughly scrutinized before finally issuing it.Every Jim and Jack being issued with our NRCs!!Cry my beloved country!!!!
Zambian politics are getting out of hands,politics is a battle field but a platform for different individuals with different views to develop our nation,so violence should not be codon. and i want to encourage my fellow youths who are the victims of violence to stay away from violence because we have a bright future ahead of us
This is the problem when you let politics dictate everything in the country. All institutions have been politicized and they make decisions depending on which political party they belong to. No wonder we never progress as a nation because everything is simply based on politics and nothing else. Even technocrats in govt are busy politicking on who should win the next election instead of working on policies. There is a major problem in the country and if week on politicizing all aspects of the country, we are headed for self destruction as a country!
The purpose of verification of the voter roll is to correct anomalies before voting day. Every country might discover such errors, and they are normal. Blame the ECZ if the 5,000 will miss on the final voters’ roll. Why are you so quick at making unfounded, unreasonable accusations before analysing the information. Think critically before you write on such public media.
I remember in those days that we even had to verify examination numbers and spellings of our names some months before sitting for grade 9 and 12 examinations. Is there any storm in this cup of tea?
The 11 August 2016 elections will not be free and fair for the following reasons:
1. PF Contracted criminals called Timor Consulting to help them rig these elections;
2. PF, together with Timor and ECZ have contracted another criminal printing company called Al Ghurair to rig the elections;
3. PF and ECZ have registered criminals from foreign countries to vote in the elections.
To expect PF to address these matters is naivety of the worst order.
ALL opposition parties must immediately do the following:
1. Write to the AU and the UN to raise these concerns;
2. Seek the intervention of both the AU and UN;
3. Lead protests which should start now until these matters are resolved; and
4. Declare Timor, Al Ghurair and their staff as enemies of Zambia.
To go into an election with…
Failures have got someone to blame, for their misfortune. Ba UPND mukose, you are used to failure don’t others. Nonsense
This is corruption of the highest order selling national citizenship for votes!
Can you imagine five more years of these guys?