Friday, March 29, 2024

I have not directed ECZ to Introduce Electronic Voting and Disadvantage the Opposition-President Lungu

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President Edgar Lungu, has noted with concern insinuations from some quarters of society that he has directed the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to abandon the current voters’ register and to introduce electronic voting in an effort to disadvantage the opposition in the 2021 elections.

In a statement made available to the media by Press and Public Relations Special Assistant to the President Isaac Chipampe, President Lungu said the ECZ is an independent and autonomous Electoral Management Body, empowered under Act No. 35 of 2016 to make regulations providing for the registration of voters and for the manner of conducting elections among other functions.

He has reaffirmed his unwavering commitment to ensuring the independence of the ECZ, or indeed any other Constitutional body.

President Lungu stated that he would not sanction any acts that would usurp the powers of the ECZ.

He added that under his leadership, he has allowed and will continue to allow Constitutional bodies like the ECZ to operate autonomously and independently.

“I therefore find it absurd that some citizens continue to claim that I am directing the Electoral Commission of Zambia to change voter registration methods to mine and the ruling party’s advantage,” said President Lungu.

President Lungu added that even he and the ruling party are uncomfortable with some of the newly introduced methods but he is restrained to comment because his words may be seen as interference in the operations of the ECZ.

He further added that he does not want the electoral process to be marred in controversy and prays that the pols would be free and fair before, during and after voting.

36 COMMENTS

  1. MR. PRESIDENT HOW LONG ARE YOU GOING TO KEEP ON CHEATING CITIZENS? IF YOU CARE PLEASE WOULD YOU ADVISE NSHINDANO AND ISAU CHULU TO KEEP THE OLD VOTER’S REGISTER. IF YOUR LEADERSHIP HAS FAILED TO ISSUE 3 MILLION NRCs TO ALL THE ZAMBIAN YOUTHS AND HOW POSSIBLE WILL THESE EVIL MEN IN ECZ GOING TO CAPTURE THE 9 MILLION WITH REGISTRATION VOTERS?

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  2. Correct Mr President.
    However, Ask for me what’s the way forward for the ECZ since it will disadvantage many Zambians?

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  3. Everything is same answer, hooo I didn’t not direct that conman to pay $1million per fire water tank.
    Hoooo I didn’t direct…
    Ok then if you can’t take responsibility, then get ya fvck out that ballot paper, why weeks third term?

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  4. We have all seen a video of ECZ announcing fake numbers in 2016 presidential elections in favor of PF. How can Zambians trust such a board? Also is Chuulu going to be questioned in court why he was releasing incorrect numbers in favor of PF I. 2016?

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  5. Surely discarding the existing Voters Roll with only 11 months b4 the 12th August 2021 Elections will disenfranchise
    many People especially in the Rural Areas. The President should be concerned with this devt at a National Level. ECZ shouldn’t be allowed to tamper with the current Voters Roll. ECZ should update the Voters Roll by adding new Voters and removing those who have died. ECZ cannot unilaterally discard the Voters Roll without consulting all Stakeholders. It is not in the interest of our Constitutional Democracy to disenfranchise Voters. ECZ must be stopped at all costs otherwise the 2021 Elections are already rigged. We want free,fair and credible Elections in 2021.

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  6. But ofcourse you are expected to say this Mr President… who would expect, in their normal mind, a statement saying otherwise??! Tekuti kuti chawama mwaikala fye na zee…

  7. President Lungu, as a citizen of Zambia, you have an obligation to hold to account so called independent institutions when they abrogate provisions of the constitution and the agreed laws in Zambia. So if there are some decisions of ECZ which are contradicting the provisions of the electoral act, then please raise these as a key stakeholder and citizen of Zambia. No body will say you are interfering with the independence of the institutions if your intervention is to protect the constitution and the agreed laws. Independent institutions are established to uphold the rule of law and the constitution of Zambia.

  8. I am happy that the president is NOT in agreement with ECZ on line registration.
    But then why Mr Chulu and Mr Nshindano so starbon against of Zambian when it’s known only 35% can access and operate internet.

  9. Patrick Nshindano doesn’t consider himself and his ECZ answerable to all stakeholders. In other words the ECZ is its own electoral commission.

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  10. I am happy that the president is NOT in agreement with ECZ on line registration.
    But then why Mr Chulu and Mr Nshindano so starbon against the wishes of Zambians when it’s known only 35% can access and operate internet.

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  11. As Head of State ECL should make sure ECZ doesn’t violate Citizens Rights to elect MPs and Councillors of their choice. ECZ shouldn’t and can’t unilaterally discard the Voters Roll and deny many People a Right to vote come 2021 Elections. ECZ is trying to rig the 2021 Elections for ECL and PF. What ECZ is trying to do will lead to social strife in Zambia. ECZ should respect Citizens Rights to elect their Political Leaders. Chulu and Sindano are playing with fire. They must leave the Voters Roll alone.Zambians don’t want rigged Elections which will lead to social strife and Political instability in Zambia.

  12. But why can’t ECZ record the current register online since they have all details. They get millions as salaries and yet they can’t even update by a register.

  13. These directives are not normally direct, but these organizations normally know which side of their bread is buttered, and know what to do to disadvantage others, don’t know that any change in regime affects their job, with this high unemployment, isn’t is as simple as that

  14. When you are great and a threat to the opposition, you will get accused of doing and controlling things that are beyond your country. The ecz is an independent organisation which decides independently the best way to ensure free and fair elections. The problem we have is that the upnd which happens to be a tribal party knows it cannot win an election and so resorts to silly accusations such as this. We have told you to change your leadership and market your party differently. However it seems tribalism is far more important to you that you are willing to lose an election for it. Good luck

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  15. You havent answered up to now what has happened to Chavula ever since he entered the IT protected zone and who gave him the passwords to the ECZ computers ?

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  16. The president is right. The fact is that in southern province there is a UPND fake register. There is no way you can have 98% turn out in a province. Does it mean those guys don’t die? Please ECZ we need new register otherwise UPND southern province turn out will be 100%.And we can’t have a president winning in one province that is pure tribalism. He should win in 5 to 6 provinces. People are scared to go to southern province to monitor bcoz everyone there is UPND.They just mark ballot papers.We need a new registor.There is a fake register in southern province. If we want fair elections curtail southern fake turn out.Ba PF becareful with old registor.You need special people to monitor elections there otherwise u gonna lose to one province. Those voters don’t exist period in southern.

  17. The president is right. The fact is that in southern province there is a UPND fake register. There is no way you can have 98% turn out in a province. Does it mean those guys don’t die? Please ECZ we need new register otherwise UPND southern province turn out will be 100%.And we can’t have a president winning in one province that is pure tribalism. He should win in 5 to 6 provinces. People are scared to go to southern province to monitor bcoz everyone there is UPND.They just mark ballot papers.We need a new registor.There is a fake register in southern province. If we want fair elections curtail southern fake turn out.Ba PF becareful with old registor.You need special people to monitor elections there otherwise u gonna lose to one province. Those voters don’t exist period in southern…

  18. Please cartel the fake turn out in southern province through fake registor in southern otherwise this year turn out will be 100%.Where on earth?

  19. Please cartel the fake turn out in southern province through fake register in southern otherwise this year turn out will be 100%.Where on earth?

  20. Please cartel the fake turn out in southern province through fake register in southern otherwise this year turn out will be 100%.Where on earth? Ba PF be clever u gonna cry

  21. WHAT IS FORGETTING TO THINK PROPERLY IS TO PUT ZAMBIA IS A NATION AND NOT A CLUB THAT BELONGS TO A POLITICAL PARTY. WE WANT ALL TO VOTE AND NOT TO BE DENIED BECAUSE THOSE WHO WERE GIVEN THE RESPONSIBILITY OF GENERAL ELECTION HAVE OR HAD NOT TIME TO PREPARE. BETWEEN NOW AND JULY, WE HAVE AT LEAST 10 MONTHS IN WHICH TO ORGANISE PROPERLY.
    ECZ MUST NOT TAKE US ZAMBIANS FOR GRANTED. THEY ARE PAID USING OUR ZAMBIANS MONEY (TAXPAYERS). SO WE URGE THEM TO BE SENSIBLE AND REMAIN RESOLUTE BY ADHERING TO WHAT ZAMBIANS WANT. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE SHALL NEVER ALLOW WHAT HAPPENED IN 2016 EVEN IF YOU HAVE DUBIOUSLY BOUGHT THOSE SO CALLED POLICE ARMORY. WITHOUT FEAR OR FAVOR WE ARE ALL MONITORING YOUR FAILURES.

  22. ECZ operates under an Act of Parliament. What clause in the Electoral Act gives Powers to ECZ to discard the Voters Roll without any consultation with the Stakeholders? What ECZ is trying to do is not only illegal but unconstitutional. ECZ cannot and shouldn’t disenfranchise Citizens by denying the Right to Vote and elect a President, MPs and Councillors of their choice . ECZ should clean out the Voters Roll and update it. There is absolutely no need to discard the Voters Roll.

  23. This news is classical example of how the fake news impacts the public sentiment. It is highly dangerous trend spreading its tentacles in Zambia. Ironically, it is fuelled by none other than the politician who aspires to occupy State House. The youths of our country are falling prey to the false propaganda funded by foreign forces. This is not at all good for the democracy.

  24. This is something way beyond even wildest of imagination. How can someone, order ECZ? Any is the common knowledge that it is an autonomous body and government cannot control it. So, President Edgar C Lungu could never order it to do something and even if he did, the ECZ would not obey it. Doing such thing ahead of general elections would be no less than political suicide. Even thinking that a seasoned and veteran politician like Edgar C Lungu would do it, is the biggest indication of one’s political ignorance.

  25. “ECZ is an independent and autonomous Electoral Management Body, empowered under Act No. 35 of 2016 to make regulations providing for the registration of voters and for the manner of conducting elections among other functions,” this is sufficient enough to clear the air. However, the fake news factory won’t stop production. This is the proof that the Opposition has run out of issues to take up for election.

  26. Just be sincere, you will finish like some former presidential advisors who have just been reduced to blogging, you wont see their name in any respected press

  27. Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans Corruption scandals: 48 Houses Social Security Cash Luxury Presidential Jet Ambulances Fire Trucks Mukula Trees Ndola-Lusaka Rd Malawi Maizegate Fuelgate Swaziland landgate Zesco Loans

    Like he will admit it even if he did… who is he f00ling bit himself. Prove you have not directed them by protesting with the rest of the country this machiavellian n0nsense this good for nothing ECZ are doing to try and ahnd over an election to you.

    Surely if these sycophants minions really wanted to start a new electoral roll, they would have started just after the last general elections 4 years ago. Not on the 11th hour with their incompetence. If Zambians allow this n0nsense to pass without any kind of resistance, forget anything left of what you call a country. Might as well forget the elections altogether as it will be a waste of time.

  28. Those spreading this false information should have been wise enough to take information of all that ECZ has done. Had they been honest in their efforts, it would have come to their notice that, ECZ has brought in many methods that would go against the interests of PF! Now, a simple question, if President Lungu controlled the Commission, would he allow such methods to be brought in? Think……

  29. “…..He further added that he does not want the electoral process to be marred in controversy and prays that the pols would be free and fair before, during and after voting….”

    If you wanted to , you can ensure this happens , but you need violence and intimidation to win any election , so don’t lie to us

  30. Raising doubts over the autonomous body like ECZ is nothing but politically motivated. Those behind the roumer mongering definitely have sinister plan to sabotage the democracy in Zambia. This is evident from the news, published by same news paper few months ago. People of Zambia should not pay heed to such malicious propaganda.

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