Thursday, March 28, 2024

Election observers arrive in Zambia from all 28 EU member states

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EU EOM Zambia short-term observers attend their training in Lusaka
EU EOM Zambia short-term observers attend their training in Lusaka

The EU Election Observation Mission reinforced its team with 56 of short-term observers ahead of election day. The short-term observers arrived on Friday to begin their training in Lusaka before being deployed all over Zambia. The Mission has been in Zambia since 29 June to observe all phases of the electoral process, and now has more than 120 observers in the country.

The 56 short-term observers (STOs) of the European Union Election Observation Mission arrived in Zambia on Friday, 5 August. They join the Mission’s 24 long-term EU observers (LTOs) and its Core Team that has been in the country since 29 June, to reinforce the Mission for election day observation activities.

The short-term observers arrived from all 28 EU member states plus Norway. They will participate in a two day training at the EU EOM headquarters in Lusaka before being deployed to their areas of responsibility on Monday, 8 August. With their arrival, the EU EOM reaches full strength with over 120 observers in Zambia.

On election day, EU observers will follow the voting, counting and tabulation at various polling stations across the country. They will report their observations to the Core Team of the Mission in Lusaka, where the data coming from every corner of Zambia forms part of a comprehensive analysis.

The initial findings of the Mission will be presented to the Zambian people and all electoral stakeholders in a preliminary statement at a press conference two days after elections day. A comprehensive final report, including recommendations for future elections, will be published approximately two months after the end of the electoral process.

On Monday morning, 56 Short-Term Observers (STOs) of the European Union Election Observation Mission (EU EOM) will be deployed to their areas of responsibility to begin preparations for their observation activities ahead of and on Election Day. The STOs will work in teams of two, and will join the EU Election Observation Mission’s Long-Term Observer teams (LTOs) who have already been in the 10 provinces of Zambia since mid-July.

Following an invitation from the Government of Zambia, the European Union has established a Mission to observe the Presidential, Parliamentary and Local Council Elections, as well as the referendum on the Bill of Rights, due on 11 August. The EU EOM serves as a neutral and impartial team of experts and observers. It was invited to Zambia in support of the democratic process by making an independent, comprehensive analysis of all aspects of the elections. At full strength, the mission will comprise more than one hundred international observers.

17 COMMENTS

  1. Who is paying for these observers from Europe? It is sad that in this day and age Zambia cannot hold free elections unless a foreigner is hovering over the ballot boxes! Do Europeans invite Africans to observe their elections and accommodate them in 5 star hotels?

    • The reason is that Zambia seems to be in a perpetual delinquent stage of youth, not yet grown up to conduct their own affairs without a babysitter’s watchful eye.

    • With a CRY BABY (HH) running, Govt invited the EU member States to come and observe the elections when he (HH) loses he will have NO EXCUSES, or will NOT play the VICTIM (his favorite game) before the International community!

      True to his form, HH has already started lying to the International community and the UN through his usual nonsensical letters. So Govt did well to invite INDEPENDENT OBSERVERS from the EE—now let him just LOSE PEACEFULLY, his lies ain’t gonna cut it!

    • @hadela, you PF thugs always want to insult or find hatred in anybody. Instead of being proud of how much Zambia elections is attracting foreigners. Your Edgar is busy packing.

    • You yambayamba get a grip on reality.

      These elections are cosponsered by the Europeans. As a condition for the PF taking their money PF have to allow inspector’s.

      PF did not invite them by choice.

    • @Hadela and yambayamba you are both PF thugs, criminals or related to the PF thugs and criminals. Tell you Lungu that its one thing to rig elections but its another to be recognized by the international community. Let him not even try use the police, army or OP to do any dirty work for him. I would even urge the Americans and NATO to deploy an army in one of our neighboring to issue him a warning like they did with RB if dares try anything funny he will be hounded out. We cannot have a dictator in Zambia not now and never. Lungu must go.

  2. I am not a pf thug Nostradamus. Are you paying for the 5 star accommodation for these observers?. Why do African elections need to be observed by Europeans? Zambians are peaceful, honest, law abiding people. We have a few bad apples here and there, but on the whole I do not see why these foreigners (from Europe) need to travel to Zambia to observe elections. It is a waste of the European tax payers money. It is also a waste of the Zambian tax payers money. Why did the government not invite observers from African countries that are closer to home?

    • @Hadela and yambayamba you are both PF thugs, criminals or related to the PF thugs and criminals. Tell you Lungu that its one thing to rig elections but its another to be recognized by the international community. Let him not even try use the police, army or OP to do any dirty work for him. I would even urge the Americans and NATO to deploy an army in one of our neighboring to issue him a warning like they did with RB if dares try anything funny he will be hounded out. We cannot have a dictator in Zambia not now and never. Lungu must go.

  3. The observers are paid for by the EU come on you people. Let’s be logical you think the government is footing the bills sure..Africa is not yet there, our leaders are so selfish and corrupt. Have you seen how clean European elections are held and how pathetic elections in Africa are. We are still behind and we need them

  4. EU know they have a lot to gain, reason they are flooding Zambia. Nothing is for free a good economics term and someone or something has to pay in the end. They know what they want and here to secure they’re claws in Zambia. They lifted the aviation ban to allowing trophies to be exported internationally which was initially banned. The David Shepard Foundation has questioning them on this move which EU has failed to answer. They have been condemned world wide on Twitter yet here we are in Zambia with open smiles saying welcome. We need to start questioning these peoples motives. And as nice as it is them being here to observe the elections, we should look beyond that. Some of those faces own lodges in Zambia and transport trophies abroad fro their billion dollar wildlife conventions in…

  5. Lungu must know that its one thing to rig elections but its another to be recognized by the international community. Will become like Zimbabwe. Let him not even try use the police, army or OP to do any dirty work for him. I would even urge the Americans and NATO to deploy an army in one of our neighboring to issue him a warning like they did with RB if dares try anything funny he will be hounded out. We cannot have a dictator in Zambia not now and never. On Wednesday, state house police should not allow him in and tell him to come back Friday after the results are validated and even have a vehicle to take him straight to court where he should go explain why he has misused public funds

  6. The EU,AU,SADC,American and the Britain they all want Zambia to remain a peaceful country and shinning example of democracy in Africa.I personally have met some of these people,they enjoy Zambia’s peacefullnes more than you Zambians.SO even them they cannot tolerate the nonsense of dictatorship in Zambia.Besides,organisations like EU,UN,AU are using Zambia to house many displaced Africans from war countries.All these risks have been calculated by them and it is very very far fetched that Zambia can just become a dictatorship.It will take heaven and earth,cos alot has been invested in that peace & democracy u people enjoy.It ll take Goliath or Samson to destroy it,and not just someone after drinking kachasu from chawama,comes and makes noise-No!It wont happen!

  7. All the previous Elections we ve always had EU observers,but they didnt make headlines cos it was just a small number,about 10-20 observers.This time around and for the 1st time in Zambia’s history you have 120 EU Observers.120 bane this is not a joke.And mind you these are trained cops,dont jst take them for observers.They will send signals of distress if Lungu plays monkey games & before u realise American soldiers ll be all over the country maintaining peace for Zambians.Thats how bad it can become.Zambia will never be a dictatorship-period!By far unless in your dreams.especially PF’s wet dreams.Zambia is loved by so many other countries-many.Zambia is not Uganda or Zimbabwe.ZAMBIA is ZAMBIA!

  8. People misuse words. Zambians are not peace, loving and Christians as somebody said they full of empty ideas Watsoever u serve them they eat. I believe that the poor,uneducated, ignorant and indecisive population in zambia is the one that will elect a useless perceived president.

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