The Zambian Voice
Press Statement on The 2016 General Elections
18th August, 2016
We would like to commend the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for the job well done. ECZ prepared for the 11th August general election and the referendum very well.
Most of all, we are happy that ECZ were very transparent every step of the way and the involved all stakeholders.
ECZ were also very patient and tolerant to all the views and concerns expressed by all stakeholders especially political parties.
During the day of elections, ECZ conducted the elections very efficiently such that most polling stations opened and closed at the right time after serving the electorates that turned up to vote.
The management of results was also very transparent because all political parties were allowed to verify the figures before they were finally announced.
We would also like to commend the police for securely the Country as a whole and all the electoral process, such that citizens voted peacefully.
As Zambian Voice we participated in the preparation of elections and monitored the voting and the announcement of results.
We are glad to state that the elections were transparent, free and fair according to our constitution and the international standards for holding a credible and democratic election.
We therefore commend all Zambians and all those who participated in this election.
CONCERNS
While we affirm that the last elections were transparent, free and fair, we recognize that, there were a few incidences that did not go according to the expectations of the ECZ and other stakeholders, however, we believe that those incidences could not change the outcome of this election.
It is normal to have a few hiccups in a huge process such as the just ended elections because it involves a lot of activities and individuals with different character and motives.
Therefore, it is unreasonable for anyone to over emphasize the few negatives of the last election and discredit the all process.
What is of more concern is that, there have been people who have been antagonist and discrediting the process right from the beginning.
Some stakeholders have been speculative of almost everything relating to the elections.
During the registration of voters, some stakeholders alarmed the nation that ECZ had registered 500, 000 voters with a view to rig the 2016 elections. This speculation ended up with some members of a named political party being in court charged with criminal offenses relating to the same rumors.
The printing of ballot papers was also a subject of speculation and suspicion. However, all the stakeholders who witnessed the printing of ballot papers in Dubai proved that, there was nothing sinister in the awarding of the tender and the printing of ballot papers.
ECZ was put under pressure during the distribution of electoral material throughout the Country as the same stakeholders intercepted trucks carrying ECZ material.
During voting, eminent lawyers rose on point of order alleging that some people were voting more than once (6 times) but no one was proven to have had voted 6 times.
The issue of verifying of results was also a tedious task for the ECZ because some political parties did not have representatives in some polling stations and yet they were querying the results transmitted.
In other instances, some political representatives were dodging the signing of the GEN12 (primary source document of the ECZ to enter results) if their candidate did not do well.
Some political representatives were also communicating different results, other than what they had signed for, to their superiors at Mulungushi were the final verification was being done before the announcement.
These incidences caused the delay in announcing of results and the discrediting of the process by some political parties.
PETITIONING OF RESULTS
It is within the rights of any stakeholder to petition the results following the legal processes. However, we are concern with the provocative and inciting statements coming from the opposition, especially the United Party for National Development (UPND).
We have noticed with dismay the some statements coming from the UPND leadership.
While President Lungu has been preaching peace and unity, the UPND leadership is issuing provocative and inciting statements, stating that the Patriotic Front (PF) have stolen their vote and urging their members not to accept the results but rather take President Hakainde Hichilema and his running mate as the winners of the just ended 2016 elections.
This is very unfortunate and we would like to urge the UPND to refrain from issuing such statement but rather take their petition to the Constitutional court in dignity without being their own judges.
We also wish to urge the Constitutional Judges to exercise the ultimate wisdom as they consider the evidence and the situation in the Country so that they can pass a ruling that will reflect the will of the majority as expressed in the last election as soon as they analyse all facts when should the petition be launched.
It is unfair to the majority Zambians that, a few people would hold the Country at ransom that, unless they get the power then that is when there will be peace and unity.
Democracy should not only be accepted when things favors the individual interests and ambitions but the majority.
Thank- you
CHILUFYA TAYALI
Executive Director
The Zambian Voice
UPND wants us to accept HH & Co as winners based on the pathetic voting pattern of 3 bitter provinces. The rest of Zambia remain calm as these cavemen protested. The biggest protest will be after thr majority’s chosen one is nullified. Wait and see coz you are treading on deadly grounds !
So called zambian voice? Much like lone voice!
Zambian Voices my foot, Its more like Tayali`s voice and who ever takes seriously what comes from this loser’s mouth needs their head examining.
ati “While we affirm that the last elections were transparent, free and fair” How much did Kaiser Zulu pay for this or its a solicitation for payment.?
it is true, few incidents can not mean elections where not free and fair? in kanyama constituency and the error counting in lundazi which were both collected? that is 2 out of 156 come on people it always hard to manage national event like elected a common understanding need to prevail like Tayali has done.
@wisdom; I concur with you Wisdom, in fact after correction were made the winner still emerged winner, what else do want? They the police to beat them so that they get an excuse. MALABISHI
Well spoken and balanced. The problem of the opposition is they pass judgement before the actual events e.g
1. They said they have won elections before voting but later cry foul
2. They said they will lose because elections will be rigged
3. Now they are saying the Constitutional court will favour them. Once it goes against them they will say the judges are colluding with PF
What type of leadership is this?
On petition, if they had enough and solid evidence they would have lodged their petition long time but because there is insufficient evidence hence reluctantly to go to court. How can they lodge a petition six hours before inauguration? That’s madness
Just like in Kenya’s 2007 election (that lead to needless massacres), the losers in Zambia’s 2016 election cried a stolen vote long before polling day. HH was unambiguous in claiming that he could only lose if the election was rigged. This claim is consistent with his refusal to pacify his supporters. For him, it is “ME OR NO ONE ELSE.” What a president we gonna have!
You gonna have him where?
That’s what desperation does. Is it rocket science to know that the rejects from PF and the cartel that defected to UPND did it in bad faith? Do they even know what UPND as a party stands for or they just wanted to hate President Lungu?
But the famous saying goes, “A house built on weak foundation never lasts no matter how attractive it may look”, that’s UPND and HH for you. To this day, the Zambians have rejected him because they are wise than he thinks. He sees himself as a god and only him knows and has answers to all the problems in his kingdom of darkness.
It’s time HH realised and took stock of himself, losing presidential bid since 2006, and for the fifth time is just an indication that you are not a leader, period.
Congrats to President Lungu and PF on the resounding…
It should read “Press Statement by Chilufya Tayali” not Zambian Voice.
As usual,a political cadre issuing a political statement under the guise of being a media organization. Only the Guilty are afraid.
This election would not have been an issue if the laid down regulations were followed.If the Gen12 document was signed by polling agents/stakeholders at the polling station no one would argue about the results.One simple document solves all the problems.
For the Constitutional Court judges,the easiest decision they can make is order a recount and let concerned parties sign the Gen12 form….CHAPWA….This will reflect the will of every Zambian.I agree with Edith Nawakwi that all results should be verified.That means all the Gen12’s from 156 constituencies must be sent to Concourt…
HH is headed for yet another defeat which will add to the number of loses since 2006. I have never head anywhere in the world history an election being nullified or a loser winning a petition in court. Just prepare for another sixth lose.
Then you will be in for a rude shock when ECL is nullified. Wait and see.
1. “…..It is unfair to the majority Zambians that, a few people would hold the Country at ransom that, unless they get the power then that is when there will be peace and unity.”
PLEASE DONT LOOK AT THE PETITION AS JUST BEING FOR FEW PEOPLE, THOSE PEOPLE ARE JUST REPRESENTING THE 48% THAT VOTED OTHERWISE. You be FAIR AS WELL WHEN YOU CONSIDER THIS
2.”….We also wish to urge the Constitutional Judges to exercise the ultimate wisdom as they consider the evidence and the situation in the Country so that they can pass a ruling that will reflect the will of the majority as expressed
WELL, ARE TRYING TO INFLUENCE THE COCOURT? LET THEM MAKE DECISION BASED ON FACTS
Kanene, you do not need to worry if your candidate did not rig. We just want the truth to come out. If he indeed won legally then the winning will be upheld. If not, then the rigging will be exposed. This is a fair process in any democracy. If we fail to do this, then who is to guarantee that 2021 will not experience the same problems? Why do you wish to suppress other views? Mind you, There are others who are voicing the issue of separating Zambia in two so that you can have north part and southern part as separate entities. Personally, I think that would be a better solution. Separation would enable you the PF to rule the north part till Jesus comes back as you wish. No one would complain because that is what you want. Unity is about giving and taking and not taking all the time!
Kikikikiki kikikikiki one man monitor has passed judgement.
Well atleast he has said something!
To be honest HH is just a bitter man who thinks he is God’s gift to Zambia I am sorry to say this election has ended his political career because people are seeing through him now.l can see him having difficulty getting credible politician’s on his side because people now know that the Zambian people who are so smart have resoundingly rejected him.If HH can remember from the past that Zambia had intelligent politician’s with big ambitions like him who got nowhere and if I can put this question to him why did this happen? Because they became pompous, arrogant,greedy,tribalistic and selfish.These attributes closed the Mbala maffia’s political career. This is just a word of caution to HH To my President ECL may the almighty God continue to bless you and your family and I decree long…
FODEP ISSUED SIMILAR REPORT, SOME PEOPLE ON THIS PLATFORM RUBBISHED IT COZ THE AUTHOR WAS TONGA. WHAT ABOUT THIS ONE, IS HE NOT POLITICALLY INCLINED? LETS BE OBJECTIVE NOT SUBJECTIVE
No It is not normal to omit form 12 or else the results cannot be authentic. It is not normal to allow a PF criminal into the restricted computer room. The fact that he was issued with an ID by named ECZ officials means that they colluded with the riggers. It is not normal to deny opposition access to the public media. It is not normal to close the only objective private tabloid at a critical time during campaigns. It si not normal to assault the constitution and allow PF Ministers to overlap and use public resources to campaign. It is not normal to order the Police to only arrest and brutalise opposition supporters. It is not normal to kill innocent unarmed oppoistion supporters br the Police and refuse to arrest the culprits. It is not normal to cancel opposition rallies bat the alst…
Chonta. Is it normal to send sms messages to the entire constituents that a candidate has been arrested and was in police cells a day before elections? It is normal to beat up and chase away polling agents of another party in some areas? it is normal to burn tyres when you loose an election? Is it normal to have 50 000+ people cast their vote within 6 hrs of voting (lets just say on average a voter spends at least 30seconds to cast all votes in a general election). In a normal environment 50 000 voters x 30seconds=25 000 minutes. divide by 60=416.70hrs. divide by 24=17days. This is deep not so???
The judge was very careful with the referendum declaration. But he was not careful with the Lundazi..pronouncements. ECL 29,979 while valid votes were at 28, 792. Just Lundazi alone ECL was given 8,003 extra. I am quite sure even HH was given votes in his strongholds. Mathematically, things are not ok.
There should be a differentiation between rigging (intended) and errors (unintended). Errors will always feature where humans do things and nothing wrong with that. I believe what UPND will present, should they proceed with it, are errors and they better be significant ones so far as the final outcome is concerned please. WE ARE WAITING AND WATCHING!
The will of the majority can never be reflected by inflamming doggy computer generated figures!! If you win, win on a clean note than imposing yourself by cooking figures. There is no one above the rule of law. I pray for God’s vengeance to come through in this legal case so we can be a beacon of hope to the rest of African countries.
Chilufya!!!Being haunted by PAST on HH and UPND attacks you made.
Mwaiche relax! They already actually emptied you in the bin.
Thanx.
Mwakulanya amenshi nombaline! You will eat the humbleness of lungu ba fikala!
IF YOU HAVE STOLEN, AND OBTAINED SOMETHING THROUGH FALSEHOOD, IT IS JUST GOOD TO LOOK DOWN AND BE ASHAMED, AND AS YOU LIFT YOUR HEAD, YOU SHOULD BE EMBARRASED. HONESTLY TO THIS DAY, THERE CAN BE THOSE MIS-GUIDING PIPO STILL THINKING THAT ALWAYS THE COUNTRY OR THE WORLD WILL CONTINUE WATCHING THIEVES WHEN IT IS CLEAR THEY HAVE STOLEN? If YOU DO NOT ACT, MY DEAR, A THIEF, A CROOK, A CRIMINAL WILL TAKE MORE ADVANTAGE OF YOU. WE ARE TALKING OF MASSIVE INNOCENT ZAMBIANS VOTING FOR CHANGE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SOMEONE ALWAYS THREATENING NOT TO GIVE UP POWER SHOULD HE LOSE, WE ARE TALKING ABOUT SELFISH INDIVIDUALS MY DEAR, AT THE EXPENSE OF THE INNOCENT ZAMBIANS. WHY, WHY DO YOU THINK WE SHOULD BE AS FOOLISH AS THIS CONTINUALLY? DO YOU THINK IT IS NORMAL FOR ZNBC TO ONLY BE FEATURING RULING…
AS AT NOW BELOVED, DONT WORRY MUCH ABOUT PIPO LIKE KAMBWILI AND EDGAR, AND THEIR OTHER FELLOW CROOKS/CRIMINALS. LET US JOIN HANDS THANKING GOD FOR REVEALING THE DEEP AND SECRET THINGS AS IN DANIEL 2 (READ THE WHOLE CHAPTER). The mess they have done and taking Zambians as fools; both the illiterate and the elite, has gone too far and hence the Golden Image in front of Lungu. It is now. Wait, God is at work. These men have DONE/CAUSED too much damage and none of them want to save the other from the soon coming damnation in their faces. God has it all. Finishing someone’s term has become a platform and celebration for torturing innocent Zambians in every aspect!!! Wait upon God, soon you will see the Salvation of Man.
This tayali fool who likes picking prostitutes whenever drunk…yaba…..he is full of nonsense….he will eat his vomit one day
Leave my boy Tayali alone at list he has exprest his views to open people’s minds or show us what type upnd leaders are to be more precise HH and Fat Albert are a danger to govern or rule Zambia. Bemba’s say BALIKULA IMITWE ( meaning they have grown big headed) thinking having too much money is a one way ticket to state house. Time wasters plse move on let ECL work for Mother Zambia…!
Sorry to say but I find HH to be a cry baby. First it was the printing of ballots in Dubai. He said, he was not going to accept the printing of ballots from Dubai. Now he is saying he won the elections using the same ballot papers he had condemned earlier. What does this man want? Her has labeled the ECZ as corrupt. I wont be surprised if he will label the Constitutional Court corrupt if he will not win the court case.
The great men in VJ and Mazoka were sellable beyond tribes. Today I still feel VJ is one of the Tongas this country has been robbed a chance of having a wise leader. This man VJ should have been president just after Chiluba but the post each time he is appointed they bring him down for past offences which by law then were not prosecutable. I hope another star from southern Province rises and we shall support beyond the boarders of tribe. God bless Zambia