FODEP gets funds for voter sensitisation

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has received an undisclosed substantial amount of money from the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) to enable it continue conducting sensitisation programmes on voter registration in eight districts across the country.

FODEP Information Officer McDonald Chipenzi named the districts FODEP was scheduled to conduct its sensitisation programmes as Sinazongwe, Kazungula, Choma, Siavonga, Kabompo, Chavuma, Mwinilunga and Kasempa.

Mr. Chipenzi told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the Foundation would ensure many people were sensitised to register as voters in preparation for the 2011 general elections.

Mr. Chipenzi however, declined to mention how much money UNDP had given FODEP to carry out the sensitisation programmes in the named districts.

In a related development, the FODEP Information Officer has appealed to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to ensure that voter educators that have been removed in some parts of the country were redeployed.

Mr. Chipenzi noted that the development had resulted in a low voter registration turn out especially in some rural parts of the country.

He pointed out that this had also led to many people to be de-motivated as there was no one to educate them on the need to register as voters.

Mr. Chipenzi said a lot of people were willing to register as voters as long as they were properly educated and sensitised on the process.

He also urged school going children that have reached the age of sixteen to ensure that they obtained National Registration Cards (NRCs) by taking advantage of the school holidays.

Mr. Chipenzi further said this was very important as it was their right to do so and that the move enabled them to participate in national activities.

ZANIS