The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has said that the failure by the Electoral Commission of Zambia to release the result for the referendum alongside the presidential result, as was promised by the Commission, has raised serious speculation among members of the public that the Referendum could have failed.

Isaac Mwanza the YALI Governance Advisor said they are saddened that the Commission has left the matter of the referendum outcome to public speculation when that referendum vote was as more important as other elections.

“YALI has however said the total votes cast for presidential vote announced this far by the Commission is a pointer that Zambia will meet the required 50% threshold of eligible voters turning up to cast their vote which will allow Parliament to consider the Bill to alter the Bill of Rights and Article 79.

“We are saddened though that the Commission has left the matter of the referendum outcome to public speculation when that referendum vote was as more important as other elections,” he said.

He explained “YALI fears if the referendum result is only released after all other results have been done, the Commission may be accused of doctoring the numbers in favour of either candidate who would have won the elections because of each candidate had their own stance on the referendum.

“The Commission seem to have been overwhelmed with conducting the general election at the expense of the referendum and this is the reason why YALI had objected to turning the Electoral Commission into a Referendum Commission as ECZ has less capacity to handle the referendum.”
He also said the proposal by his organization on having a separate Referendum Commission which would be in charge of the Referendum process.

“The YALI proposal to conduct the referendum alongside the 2016 general elections was premised on the fact that we shall have a separate Referendum Commission which would solely have the capacity to announce the referendum result as ECZ also went around with their business of announcing winning candidate and we feel government must re – table the Referendum Bill to make clear distinction between the Electoral Commission and the Referendum Commission and the roles that each plays in the referendum,” he said.

MMD President Felix Mutati has called for responsible behavior from political parties participating in the presidential elections.

Mr Mutati whose party did not take part in the presidential poll but supported the ruling PF said that there is need to behave responsibly and desist from any actions that have the potential to undermine the ECZ and our democratic credentials as a nation.

He expressed concern that there was undue pressure which the ECZ was bearing and that the management of elections was a serious undertaking of which the ECZ is doing the best it can.

“Whether in government or opposition, we need to behave responsibly and desist from any actions that have the potential to undermine the ECZ and our democratic credentials as a nation.

“The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) is concerned about the unnecessary pressure which the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has had to bear over the past few days.

“Management of elections is always a challenging undertaking and we believe that the ECZ has been striving to provide the best service under very difficult economic and logistical circumstances. The MMD believes that it is the duty of all political parties and stakeholders to support the noble efforts of all our institutions of governance including the ECZ, if our young democracy is to be sustained,” he said.

He said there is need for people to understand some of the reasons which has lead to the delay in announcing the results.

“Understandably, the process of announcing results of the presidential vote is extremely slow and the reasons are clear. The voter turnout in this years’ election was among the highest in recent years. Additionally, ECZ officials are managing five elections for the presidential, parliamentary, mayoral/council chairperson, councilor and the referendum.

“Also, the verification of results at the ECZ results center has incorporated political party representatives for the very first time thereby further delaying the process of announcing results.

We therefore urge fellow political players to provide sufficient space to officials of the ECZ to perform their duties without undue influence and pressure,” he said.

Lusaka-Kabwata Law-maker Given Lubinda has cautioned UPND leader to take extreme caution in the tone he chooses to in calling the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) ‘biased’ and accusing them of ‘colluding’ with President Edgar Chagwa Lungu to allegedly rig the August 11.

The Former Agriculture Minister was reacting to an intense live broadcast of Hichilema’s frustration at the work of the ECZ on Joy FM radio last night which he described as ‘uncalled for, highly inflammatory and has the ability of throwing the country into chaos.’

Below are some of the quotes an ostensibly infuriated Hichilema uttered on his live radio address he gave to local, foreign media and election monitors in Lusaka on 14th August in reaction to what he is calling a ‘rigged election process. These are Hichilema’s words:

“What has happened (the election that has placed Edgar Lungu in the lead) is a military coup on a democratic process. That’s the only way I can describe it

“I invite you to be active (Hichilema did not elaborate on the form of ‘active’ he wants his supporters to take but the message is not lost

“This docility (Zambians are docile according to Hichilema) will damage your families

“Will the election result be free and fair, my answer is NO. The electoral commission is receiving instructions from a participant in the election (Edgar Lungu)

There ae fake ballots inside the ballot boxes (transparent ballot boxes) and figures are changing along the way from polling stations to tallying centre

We could go on but everyone interested in this highly inflammatory statements, especially the police can get it from the radio station in question.

Our main concern is that Mr Hichilema has decided to take his frustrations to a criminal level that has the potential of throwing the country into turmoil.

He has accused President Lungu of colluding with ECZ to steal a victory and cheat intelligent Zambians and at the same time he is calling on the same Zambians to be “active” in quelling a coup.

How does Mr Hichilema even expect a victory of fairness from an ECZ, one of the most respected electoral commissions on the entire continent by calling them inept and compromised? Who advises Mr Hichilema?

We call upon the relevant authorities to protect the integrity of our ECZ and that of the Office of the President and talk to Mr Hichilema to elaborate what he meant by these above “military coup statements.”

Zambia loves its peace, it cherishes it and detests anyone that calls for confusion of any sort.

Need we remind Mr Hichilema that President Lungu responded to each and every prayer call by the church while he on record called it a waste of time, President Lungu signed a Peace Accord with ECZ which he did not?

It is out of order for Mr Hichilema to continue to wantonly insult the ECZ and call on Zambians to be “active” while at the same time risking our cherished peace.

We also ask the international observers, media and local to be cautious in the manner they report on this dangerous man’s frustrations. Hichilema must wait for final official results instead of being the usual political cry baby he is quickly turning into. All peace loving Zambians must disregard his hate and bitter speech.

President Lungu was in church praying for love and unity when Hichilema in his usual arrogance was bossing the ECZ officials and calling for their dismissal in the same manner he called the entire police service MORONS. We are also aware that Hichilema is banking on a government of national unity. It won’t happen.

THERE was growing tension and near punch-up last night at the Livingstone totalling centre between United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters and electoral officers following the delayed declaration of winning Member of Parliament, Mayor and councillors for Livingstone Constituency.

According ro resuts, UPND won the presidential as well as parliamentary, mayoral and 16 out of 17 wards in the Constituency but only three councillors have so far been declared winners four days the electorates voted.

UPND supporters lost patience and closed the totalling centre with journalists as well as monitors and police officers locked inside the centre as they demanded for announcing and declaration of winners.

It was at this that UPND supporters roughed up and nearly punched some electoral officers while turning chairs upside down and almost destroyed the computer which was transmitting results.

One UPND cadre almost attacked Livingstone District Electoral officer Vivian Chikoti but alert police officers stopped the act as all stakeholders inside the totalling centre were prevented from leaving the premises.

The cadres, who issued a lot of insults to electoral officers, wondered why Livingstone, which only has a single Constituency, was taking four days to conclude the process of announcing and declaring winners.

In response, ECZ assistant returning officer Wezi Manda said the electronic system of verifying results was lengthy and this was why officials were delaying to to announce and declare winners.

After intensified pressure from cadres, ECZ oficials yielded to demands from cadres and started verifying results manually and assured stakeholders that they would speedy up the entire process.

Earlier in the day, UPND supporters raised concern over missing figures on their candidates and the matter was later rectified.

CONFUSION has erupted in Mpongwe following the discovery of a lid for a parliamentary ballot box in a nearby bush a few meters away from the district totaling centre.

The lid for the ballot box with serial number ECZ-16 0430212 was allegedly found in a nearby bush along the Mpongwe Luanshya Road on Saturday night.

The lid was discovered by the locals who reported the case to Mpongwe District Police station.

Meanwhile, the Patriotic Front (PF) leadership in Mpongwe has expressed concern over the mysterious lid which has sparked protests among PF members in the district.

The patriotic front members want ECZ to establish how the lid for the ballot box was found in the bush.

District Electral officer Francis Nkhoma said he could not comment on the issue as it was under police investigation.

PF candidate Emmanuel Kasambo has said he would petition the parliamentary results for this year’s election.

Mr Kasambo said the discovery of the lid was a sign of Electral malpractice in the Mpongwe constituency polls.

“It is a must that I will petition and I will sight ECZ because the elections were conducted in a manner that is not fair and for me they need to explain where the lid came from and they are assuming it came from outside Mpongwe which does not make sense.” He said.

“My agents were not given official results of what was happening in the polling stations so I need explanations.” He added.

UPND candidate Rasfold Bulaya who is former Mpongwe District commissioner polled 9793 votes seconded by Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Emmanuel Kasambo who polled 8271.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT

UPND Demands a Recount in Lusaka due to Irregularities

We have formally requested a recount in Lusaka urban constituencies due to the high number of irregularities identified in the counting and transmission process. These abnormalities include the failure to provide polling agents with their copies of the Gen 12 form, leading to delays during which time our agents were subject to intimidation and in some cases illegal advance. We are now seeking this action through the courts.

There have also been a number of specific incidents in the District that have sparked allegation of manipulation, of which we have presented evidence to the Commission:

1. Our Lusaka mayoral candidate Dr. Maureen Mwanawasa uncovered a substantial discrepancy between the polling station totals and the constituency level result for Kanyama constituency of over 14,000 in favour of the PF.

2. Incidents in which PF supporters have been reported to arrive during the counting process and our agents were subject to intimidation, including at Kamwala basic school and Olympia school in Lusaka.

3. The identification of a higher number of votes tallied than registered voters.

4. The discovery of pre-marked ballot papers uncovered from a civilian van outside of ZAF HQ.

The evidence clearly shows that without this recount the election would be severely compromised and could result in a stolen election. We know the PF is seeking to ensure a re-run situation at this point, but the will of the Zambian people must prevail.

Stephen Katuka

UPND Secretary General