President Edgar Lungu has expressed worry with the voter apathy that characterized yesterday’s elections in some selected parts of the country.
President Lungu said there is need for stakeholders to come together and identify the cause of the problem and find a lasting solution.
He explained that people in the country should appreciate the democracy that Zambia has adding that in other country’s people die just to get the right to vote.
Mr. Lungu was speaking upon arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from South Africa where he had gone to attend the BRICS summit.
He noted that there is need for political leaders to abide by the peace agreement which they signed and ensure that they enforce it all the time.
The Head of state reiterated the Patriotic Front (PF) Party’s commitment to upholding all the peace agreements that it has signed with other political leaders.
The PF’s Miles Sampa won the Lusaka Mayoral election after polling 81,936 while his closet rival Kangwa Chileshe of the United Party for National Development (UPND), got 36,753.
The Lusaka mayoral seat fell vacant following the death of incumbent Wilson Kalumba.
However the elections were characterized by voter apathy as only less than 20 percent of the total registered voters cast their votes.
Haha ba stoopid PF , winning a shallow election by a landslide is very hollow.Certainly not a strong endorsement of PF leadership and record.
The President who I adore should however know that, people have more pertaining issues to their daily lives than go and vote.
There was NO incentive for anyone to go and vote and, the voting system in Zambia is both backwards, cumbersome and way outdated.
Why should they bother?
Thanks
BB2014,2016
The problem is Lungu is not solving Zambian people problems, he thinks the Zambian people problems are being solved by his focus on the infrastructure projects. Which is contrary.
He has not been active in solving the problem of violence, tribalism, cadre misbehaviour, corruption cases, etc. And he`s been a problem himself that he doesn’t talk directly to the people, he does so only when he is campaigning or visiting churches. That is not what people are expecting, therefore, he shouldn’t be surprised.
Hold press conferences, talk to the people, answer their questions, address real Zambian people daily issues like unemployment….when are burnt markets going to be rebuilt? what happened to arsonists?
LT, yesterday you covered President Sinkamba’s offering a solution on this issue. In summary, he said: “Since 2008, Zambians have been subjected to hundreds of bye-elections, general elections: 4 presidential, hundreds at parliamentary/local government. This frequency has resulted into voter fatigue. Voters are simply fed up. Poverty is another factor. Multitudes attended rallies just a few hours before election day, how come they evaporated over-night? Where did they go? Why sing and dance for someone you will not vote for the next day? What went wrong over-night? Merely hungry fellows for material ends not governance? Solution: bring an end to bye-elections. Proposals to achieve this are in the 2014 Final Draft Constitution.
Miles was a shoo in why bother to vote
HMMMMMH YABIJA! A GAME WITHOUT PARTICIPANTS! GREATNESS IN NUMBERS BUT THE DECISION IS MADE ON VOTERS WHO ACTUALLY CAST THAT VOTE. IF YOU DO NOT HAVE NUMBERS, DISSOLVE POLITICAL PARTIES AND ECZ AND LET DEMOCRACY DIE. WHO SUFFERS AFTERWARDS? THE SAME FELLOW WHO WITHHELD THAT VOTE.
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In most countries, all party leaders, all political players, all election organisations spend money and time supporting programs that enhance citizens’ participation in elections in one way or the other. Like other concerns already made by Sinkamba, you had huge rallies during campaigns but a handful of registered voters casting that vote. Who do you blame? The election? The voters? Candidates? The organisers? The political parties? There is definitely serious oversight on the…
… the electoral process. The NGO, AVAP was set up to encourage voters’ involvement and participation in elections. We do hear about them anylonger. I wonder if there work was only momentary. If it is an issue of voter fatigue we ought to rethink our position of the entire electoral process. Older voters are more prone to shunning elections than the youth though. But we can only speculate, the real cause can only be unearthed by a study so that the recommendations could be given serious thought. Where is that fake researcher Neo Simutanyi?
No cause for concern here. Most people made decision not to vote. That ought to be respected.
why voting if you already know that the ECZ is being controlled by Chkolwa Rungu and the pfoooools cadres…….lol
Get concerned your self.
If Ba Edgar had stayed away from campaign, the mayoral elections would have been exciting.
But everywhere it was “ECL 2021”, people got so bored to death with that dununa reverse.
Or the fact that HH went around threatening violence
at the rate we are moving , its not worth voting but wait for natural justice for people in offices. one by one it will be coming,,,
We used to laugh at Zimbabweans, guess what after Mugabe they can protest peacefully, campaign freely without violence. It sounds like a miracle, very soon they will be guiding us on how to conduct free and fair elections. Watch this space.
@MahalfYatu:
True, in Zimbabwe the problem and violence was about one person and that was Mugabe. Once they tossed Mugabe off, violence was resolved – no more voters being beaten; No more POAs and everyone is free to vote for whoever they want.
The same problems we have in Zambia can disappear all of a sudden if we toss out that mo.ro.nic PF thieving president Lungu! Lungu is the problem and the only that holding Zambia back from realising real Democracy. A very uncivilised foreign giving Zambians problems – so unacceptable!
They should include the runner’s up close in the constitution according to the people’s submition so that those who defect,resign or die,they don’t cause by-elections.
The analysis on how people voted should not just end at highlighting total number of votes each candidate amassed without a breakdown by gender of the 20 % voter participation, age groups to determine whether there is a move by the younger generation versus the old, what do figures say against candidates or if candidates performance had among the electorate something to do with their individual capacity or the voters just followed the part. The ones who took the holiday adding to apathy could have had their main reasons such as either there being no better candidate among the contestants or insecurity fearing eruption of violence. There is much more serious researchers can do looking into the trending loss of interest in “Zambian” democracy.
Added to that,I think most young people who make majority of our population and majority of people at political rallies dont have voters’ cards.
When you hold your political rallies, dont ask them to show your party symbols/gestures.Ask them to show their voters cards.Then you will recognize the need to sensitize young people on the importance of taking responsibility for their future
Excellent observation. Genius!
If this voter apathy continues UPND will win the next election. In their stronghold areas people will turn in number to vote. It will be very difficult for PF to counter .
Apathy will advantage UPND in 2021.
“…..Mr. Lungu was speaking upon arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport from ….”
That is all he knows , taking preloaded questions from his mouth piece publications……..lungu , every other president holds a free pree conference , what are you afraid of ? What are you hidding ?
The truth my President is that people are most concerned about providing food, good health, education and housing for their families. Their lives are at risk and therefore elections are not a priority as I am sure you can understand.
Just remember where you came from before going into politics. The hardships continue and you could help if you want as you are the President. You must stop campaigning now, and work. 2021 is still a long way off and you could still improve the well-being of your people in Zambia.
I think everyone above has put up a good point. Its true that zambians had hope in lungu, but there is no tricle down benefits to them. There are no jobs. Even his priority of roads is only benefiting him & the chinese. So well said everyone. And well demonstrated by the voter turn out. The choice now is lungus. 2021 is coming & people are watching
THE 14.3% TURNOUT IN THE LUSAKA MAYORAL ELECTIONS IS NOT JUST “VOTER APATHY” BUT A “BOYCOTT”
Out of 839,027 registered voters in Lusaka district only about 120,000 people turned up to vote.This represents a 14.3% turn out compared to 55% in 2016.This means that 86% of the electorate in Lusaka decided to stay at home.
The low voter turnout in yesterdays by-elections is historically the worst observed.This happened despite Edgar Lungu declaring the 26th of July as a public holiday.
This is a boycott and a clear demonstration of lack of confidence in the elections process by the citizens of Zambia.
Yes a boycott in the light of double h’s continuous assaults and shadow cast on the Electoral Commission of Zambia. If that is the case, then double h is one of the worst thing that could ever happen in Zambia.
thorn in gluteus maximus
There is no shadows cast on ECZ. Only stark reality of the brutal corrupt servitude to Alibaba and his 40 thieves
36753 to 81936 is only 44.8%. This shows that the majority of those that did not go to vote are from the UPND. Why they stayed away the campaign manager for UPND should explain. There is no such thing as getting tired of voting because democracy is about voting, voting and voting all the time you want something to stand. The good thing is that time was granted by the making of holiday. UPND has now itself become a joke of politics. Just good in pronouncements but so poor in execution. The best they get to is causing havoc. More the reason people are running away to join the progressive party, the PF.
Your analysis is wrong….The late Mayor had 270,161 votes in 2016 while Miles Sampa had 81,000.What happened to 70% of your PF voters in your stronghold of lusaka? Furthermore, 86% of lusaka residents shunned the elections even after declaring a holiday.
@ pink toe… Your analysis is wrong.The late Mayor had 270,161 votes in 2016 while Miles Sampa had 81,000.What happened to 70% of your PF voters in your stronghold of lusaka? Furthermore, 86% of lusaka residents shunned the elections even after declaring a holiday.
@Independent the lower voter turnout should not surprise anyone. I am surprised that even ECL never expected it. These mayoral and other councilor by elections don’t stimulate most electorate. They care less who is there. This therefore should be a lesson for those who are advocating a stand alone referendum for Human Rights. The mayoral votes were previously higher because of the presidential elections at that time. That’s what stimulated a reasonable voter turnout. Anything less than that will always result in s lower voter turnout.
Valid point. Genius!
And Zambians really rise when it’s about time to kick a tired leader out, true dat.
That’s how by elections are. Most people don’t consider them important enough to go out and waste their time voting as they consider the one who is coming in is only finishing the term for the one who was there. The real picture will only emerge during general elections.
PAC President said : the voter apathy should be mainly blamed on the opposition who continuously undermine the ECZ.
And while Banda is saying the right things and appealing to the new generation of voters, some opposition leaders and voters are oblivious to , only to be cry tribalism in 2022 that the next biggest opposition is also led by someone from the east!
LOOK at what is happening NOW and see how you can manage it to your advantage THEN. Those holding onto diminishing prospects now, should really not complain of being left out of the political limelight when Andyford FINALLY arrives.
Speculative. That’s the problem with you Zambians. Ukuconcluder. All your concerns including the president’s are speculative.
Research.
A research will help you mine the cause of this apathy, how serious it is, and how to go round it. A research is simply “a systematic investigation into and study of materials and sources in order to establish facts and reach new conclusions.” I expect Universities, colleges, media houses and research institutions in Zambia to begin to work on behalf Zambia. The ECZ should also have a research wing to establish ideas and new knowledge on important subject matters pertinent to the Zambia’s interest to avoid speculative conclusions capable of misleading feeble minds like double hh’s. Credible and unbiased research is vital here. That is the only…
That is the only way to go round this negative vice in a democratic society. The president is pointing to the researched approach on this matter unlike the double h’s blame game.
MY APPEAL TO OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS IS THAT DO NOT WASTE TIME AND MONEY ON ANY BY-ELECTIONS BECAUSE ALL WHO ARE DEFECTING FROM LEADERSHIP AND JOIN PF ARE AFTER MONEY AND NOT HELPING ZAMBIAN CITIZENS WHO VOTED FOR THEM. THIS HABBIT OF BUYING OPPOSITION PARTY LEADERS IS KILLING POOR ZAMBIANS BECAUSE THE MONEY SPENT ON BY-ELECTION WOULD HAVE SERVED THAT BABY DYING IN THE HOSPITAL BY BUYING MEDICINE, WOULD SERVED A SCHOOL/ STUDENT BY BUYING LEARNING MATERIAL BUT THEY ARE BUSSY CHEATING THEM ON UNPRODUCTIVE PROMISES.
POOR PEOPLE ARE THE MOST HUNGRY PEOPLE AND ARE THE VOTERS OTHER THAN THOSE WHO ARE GETTING A SALARY.
Do you expect Zambians to turnout in large numbers when they are GETTING k700 to 1500 as salary from Chinese companies. And what Budget can one make in such kind of salary Zambians in the near future they will stop VoTINg
Why not give the actual percentage of voter participation instead of dancing around less tha 20%? Actual number is 13.5 percent! In health sampling by pharmaceutical companies, the drug would be rejected immediately
Where is Lazy jj, still helping h.h in mourning?
Such electro jokes only happen in zambia…How do you even vote for an inept candidate who cant even articulate his own political philosophy??????!!!!!
Laziness only. But generally elections, yes, they do.
Young people in Zambia don’t need democracy. Let’s face it, what has democracy done for us? Almost all the major developments we have as a country are from the dictates…mention the schools and roads and the judiciary and the hospital’s…
I personally am not a fun of democracy because it’s a game of imbeciles
Look at Greece and learn from them they are screwed up today! And I would sincerely say that any African country which will be still practising democracy will be owned by the financial institutions! And i hope you know the repercussions for such?