The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has completed the verification process of ballot papers for the August 12, 2021 general elections.
ECZ Acting Chief Electoral Officer, Royd Katongo said the Commission invited various political parties, Civil Society Organisations, the media among other stakeholders to witness the process.
Mr. Katongo was speaking during the verification process of ballot papersat the ECZ Warehouse in Silverest of Chongwe District,
He said the process is meant to verify and ensure that all the necessary documents for the August 12, 2021 elections are in the boxes before being distributed to other provinces.
Mr. Katongo stated that they only sampled ballot papers from one polling station from each of the 10 provinces due to nature of how they were packed.
He explained that the ballot papers have been packed in such a way that all documents for a particular constituency have been put in one pallet.
“The ballot papers have been packed per constituency, meaning that all the polling stations for a particular constituency, have been packed in a particular pallet. So the stakeholders together with ECZ have agreed to sample one box from a pallet of their choice from all the provinces,” Mr. Katongo indicated.
He further explained that each box for particular polling station, has ballot papers for all the four elections types which includes presidential, National Assembly, Mayoral or Chairperson as well as Councillor.
Mr. Katongo added that other materials include posters, Gen.20 and a list of registered voters for a specific polling station among the documents being checked.
stakeholders Presidential ballot papers during the verification of
2021 general election in Lusaka.
Meanwhile, Ballot Papers Validation Committee Chairperson, Edwin Zulu noted that the political parties are satisfied with the validation process which he said was transparent.
Mr. Zulu indicated that no mistakes were found from all the boxes inspected as the necessary materials were intact and rightly packed.
“So far, so good because we have not found any mistake and everything is in order. We are happy and want to commend ECZ for the job well done,” Mr. Zulu stated.
And ECZ Vice Chairperson, Emily Sikazwe was happy that the stakeholders were satisfied with the materials received.
Ms Sikazwe said the Commission had done its part of availing the ballot papers, hence tasked political parties to ensure that they enhance voter education to avoid voter apathy.
“We are very grateful to you for undergoing this process to your satisfaction, we are partners in this and together we can make our elections credible,” Ms. Sikazwe stated.
The verification process at the ECZ warehouse has since been completed and the Commission, is expected to start distributing the ballot papers to other parts of the country by next week.
briefing political party stakeholders during the verification of 2021
August general election in Lusaka.
verified for 2021 August general election in Lusaka.
So NOW the most dangerous period will commence: the waiting period and especially the transport to the constituencies and onward to the polling stations – THIS is where the rigging happens!
Even after posting agents in every polling station and vote counting center UPND will still say this is where the rigging begins especially in provinces other than Southern province.
The end of HH and UPND is finally upon us…can’t wait for these murderers UPND bloodthirsty makakas to be sent into obliviation
You will go back to Arabs again in 5 years time to give them more money ….so far the money you have been giving them you could have retooled Govt Printers to a high standard and it would have been printing Ballot papers for the East and Central Africa. But we have short-sighted and reckless leaders in Zambia
Thank you ecz for doing a great job in very difficult circumstances caused by upnds unreasonable behaviours. The upnd know they are losing. What I am curious to know is what will happen to hh when he loses for 7th time. Will he give chance to others? Or will the dictator continue forcing himself on his tribal party?
Tarino is a f00I because he doesn’t realise that the printing is deliberately done in a neutral country to prevent his fellow f00Iish tribal upnd muppets from alleging rigging. You fcuking barstard
WHAT ABOUT THE RIGGING GADGETS FOUND TOGETHER WITH THE BALLOT PAPERS.
AND THE TWO SHIPS FOUND WITH ILLEGAL ARMS?
The Opposition in Zambia is dull.
The election materials had phones and other foreign materials included in the boxes.
How sure are you that the extra ballot papers were included in the boxes going to PF strongholds?
The ECZ is blinding you by showing you pictures on each ballot.
Hey, what kind of person is this Kaizar Zulu. His language is so embarrassing. He is always using vulgar language. Is he from a broken family or he came from a family with ni ethics. Please mr Zulu, may you learn to be a human who can truly contribute if you want to. Am not sure if you are a really a father. Please, respect yourself and your family and people of zambia. Me am not zambian but I do read african news and coments, as am a true african too.
David moyo fuseke!!
Kz = assh0le
ECZ please keep the ILLEGAL mechadise accompanying ballot papers UNDER LOCK AND KEY until after the elections on 30th August 2021.
CHECK CARGO MANIFEST FOR BALLOT PAPERS and sort it out convincingly.
Some idyots think the electronics and $ex toys were for rigging.
Those other cargo was just abuse of free ECZ transport. It is a crime not connected to vote counts.
4 cargo flights hired to ship just those few pallets? What a country of wasted education.
Dr. Kenneth Kaunda allowed ECZ to have ballot papers printed at Govt Printers but these goons at go and take money to a very rich country. Govt printers would have done a good job as well and belt its capacity. Any way that is the way we do things.