Electoral Commission of Zambia Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro has disclosed that the Commission will spend about five million United States Dollars on the printing of the ballot papers this year.
Mr Kasaro states that the Commission has not yet finalised other logistical issues regarding the printing of the election materials, hence giving an estimated figure of the printing process.
Mr Kasaro was speaking during a briefing in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
And ECZ Vice Chairperson Vincent Mukanda challenged journalists in the country to conduct a thorough assessment on the capability of local printing companies such as Government Printers to print ballot papers for Zambia’s future elections.
Major General Mukanda (RTD) said the printing of ballot papers is not an easy undertaking as it requires advanced technology in multi-printing and packaging.
Maj. Gen. Mukanda said Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing has developed its capacity over the years which journalists must take keen interest in.
He was responding to a press query on whether the Commission was considering printing election material locally in the near future.
ECZ Vice Chairperson indicated that it was in the best interest of the Commission to print election material locally, but that the capacity of the local printing companies was still a far-fetched reality.
He reiterated the need to research and provide an informed comparative analysis with the local printing industry in terms of managing the printing of election material.
“You must first start with assessing how Al Ghurair has transformed from way back when they had their old plant to know and do comparative analysis with the local printing industry,” Maj. Gen. Mukanda said.
The printing of the ballot papers will commence tomorrow, June 30, 2026.
The process is being monitored by presidential candidates’ representatives, civil society organisations and other interest groups.
