The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has said that there were serious errors in the vote tallying for the presidential election.

In a statement released to the media today and signed by the president Shepherd Chilombe, FODEP said that their monitors reported that cadres of a named political party stormed St Patrick’s Basic School polling station in Kabwata constituency, chased party agents and got away with ballot boxes.

In Kanyama constituency in Lusaka, FODED said that they received reports that 14,000 votes meant for the UPND presidential candidate were stuffed into the bin and had to be retrieved and added to the Kanyama total after intervention from the UPND Lusaka mayoral candidate.

FODEP said that they also observed a serious discrepancy in the totalling of the presidential votes by the ECZ.

Citing Lundazi Central constituency, FODEP said that the results announced by ECZ showed that PF candidate Edgar Lungu obtained 29,979 and UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema got 4,975 bring the total to 34,954. However, the number of votes cast was 29,741. These kind of errors in computation of results appear to have been widespread.

Below is FODEP full statement

FOUNDATION FOR DEMOCRATIC PROCESS (FODEP)

Post-Election Statement

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) wishes to congratulate the Zambian people for turning up in large numbers to vote in this years’ general election. The national turnout of 56.4 percent and up to 78 percent in some constituencies shows that citizens took their civic duty seriously. Taking place under a new Constitution and new electoral laws, the election posed daunting challenges to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and in some cases to voters as well.

We wish to congratulate all candidates and political parties for participating in the elections and specifically those who were elected to various positions as councillors, mayors or council chairpersons and members of parliament. We also wish to congratulate and thank co-operating partners, monitors and all stakeholders for their contributions to the elections.

Specifically, FODEP wishes to congratulate His Excellency President Edgar Chagwa Lungu for emerging winner in the highly contested election and his running mate Ms Inonge Wina.
We also congratulate the UPND and their candidate Mr Hakainde Hichilema for providing a strong challenge to the PF during the elections.

FODEP joins the nation in wishing the elected officials success in their new responsibilities and hope that they will not betray the trust bestowed on them by the electorate. Elective office calls for accountability and all those elected should know that they will be made to account at the next elections.

FODEP deployed 5,090 monitors on the day of elections, covering 60 percent of all polling stations. We were in all 10 provinces, 74 districts and 96 constituencies. Our broad coverage across space and throughout the election process enabled us to get a comprehensive picture of the electoral environment and the conduct of the poll.

The Election Day was generally peaceful in most parts of the country, with voters turning up early, sometimes as early as 02:00 hours in the morning. On the whole, voters were peaceful, orderly and patiently waited in queues for their turn to cast the votes. There was evident enthusiasm from first time voters, as majority of the voters in queues were young.

The election was held against the backdrop of inter-party violence, intimidation of opposition leaders, lack of professionalism by the police in dealing with public protests and widespread acts of bribery.

Election Day was not without incident. For instance, there were reports of violence on Election Day in Itezhi Tezhi, involving political party supporters. FODEP condemns all acts of electoral violence as they work against participation of citizens in the electoral process. Violence in any form goes against our values and should be condemned by all peace-loving Zambians. We are glad that the Police effectively dealt with such situations.

FODEP notes that while the Election Day was by and large peaceful and voting went on smoothly, there were reported cases of incompetence and inefficiency in many cases by electoral officials, which resulted in the disenfranchisement of voters in a number of polling stations across the country.

We are also concerned at the inefficiency that characterised the result management process, where the vital GEN12 Form caused tension. In some polling stations, the GEN 12 form was not available for endorsement by stakeholders, while in in some cases, it was not signed by monitors.

While we appreciate the scale of the work that had to be done on Voting Day, FODEP is of the view that the ECZ had adequate time to prepare to ensure that voting and counting were handled competently to minimise complaints and ensure credible results. We are aware that recounts were demanded in some polling stations and at totalling centres, suggesting errors by polling staff.

In addition to the broad observations made above, FODEP wishes to note specific incidences including the following;

(a) Late opening of polling stations

Despite long and adequate preparations and training of polling staff by ECZ, several polling stations opened late, ranging from 30 minutes to 9 hours in some polling stations. Some polling stations opened after 10:00 hours and others after 12:00 hours. The main reason for late opening was attributed to either late arrival of poll officials or of election materials. One centre where voting started late is at Kama primary school polling station where voting started at 12:00 hours. Lulambo polling station in Kaoma district opened at 11:00 hours due to late arrival of polling officials and materials arising from the breaking down of the vehicle they were using.

(b) Late voting

In two polling stations, one in Sioma and the other in Katombola constituency of Western and Southern provinces respectively, voters were made to vote late due to late delivery of election materials, including ballot papers. At Kalongola ward in Sioma District voting started at 06:15 but the process went on until 11:45 hours the next day. This was because of inertia and delays by polling staff. In Katombola Constituency, voting started at 15:00 hours. While ECZ extended voting in those two areas, turnout and the security of the vote may have been seriously compromised by voting at night.

(c) Interruption of voting

There were strange incidents involving electoral officials interrupting voting by either closing for lunch or stopping voting because ink pads had run out and were consulting as to what they should do next. Our monitors noted that at Ngwelele Polling in Mandevu Constituency the ECZ delivered poor quality ink stamps that broke down immediately voting started. In Mongu Central at Namauna polling station in Yeta Ward, Western Province, our monitors noted that voters forced themselves into the polling station because of the large number of people who had gathered to cast their votes. The impatience arose because of the slow pace at which the voting process was progressing. The police failed to maintain order for a long period before calm was restored. This may have resulted in vote stuffing in the midst of confusion. In Senga Hill constituency, Northern Province suspected UPND cadres stoned PF candidate Kapembwa Simbao’s vehicle smashing the wind screen.

(d) Turning away voters and disenfranchisement

There were several incidents where female voters were wrongly turned away because they had nail polish. One such incident was reported at Silverest Polling Station, in Chongwe constituency. Some voters found that their names were not in the register or were transferred to another polling station far away, while others were unable to vote because they had been moved from the area to give room to development. For example, most people registered at Kashilu polling station could not vote because they were moved to a far-away place close to the Democratic Republic of Congo border. They were unable to travel back to Kashilu because of distance and high transport costs. In Kabwata Constituency, Lusaka, the polling station at Chilenje Middle Basic School, in Chilenje South was transferred without proper communication to voters. This left scores of voters waiting at the original location before they knew it was transferred, discouraging many from exercising their right to vote.

(e) Inter-party violence

At the close of polling, there were incidents of violence involving rival political parties. For example, UPND and PF supporters clashed at Solwezi Lodge in Solwezi where vehicles were damaged. PF cadres clashed with police at Shimabala Basic School in Chipangali Eastern Province.

(f) The vote count

Our monitors noted some incidences during the ballot counting process, which instigated delays in transmission, collation and release of final results. For instance, the PF local government candidate was declared winner instead of UPND at Lubendwe ward where a named ECZ data entry officer recorded the results erroneously. The Mayoral results for the entire Kanyama constituency went missing and were not collated for that reason.

(g) Late release of results

The ECZ committed itself to release the results for the presidential election in 48 hours, this was only done four days after voting. The delay in releasing results caused anxiety and suspicion from stakeholders. In future, ECZ must set realistic deadlines for itself unlike the previous experience. The Presiding Officer at Zambezi-C ward in Chawama constituency fell ill before he could submit all the reports for parliamentary and local government elections. This forced the polling staff to delay in announcement of results. The presiding officer at Wusakile main totalling centre in Kitwe went home with the G12 form that was not signed off by stakeholders, causing commotion at the collation centre and forcing delays in announcement of results.

(h) Voting tallying of the presidential election

FODEP notes with concern that there were serious errors in the vote tallying for the presidential election. Our monitors reported that cadres of a named political party stormed St Patrick’s Basic School polling station in Kabwata constituency, chased party agents and got away with ballot boxes. In Kanyama constituency in Lusaka, we received reports that 14,000 votes meant for the UPND presidential candidate were stuffed into the bin and had to be retrieved and added to the Kanyama total after intervention from the UPND Lusaka mayoral candidate.

Further, FODEP has observed a serious discrepancy in the totalling of the presidential votes by the ECZ. In Lundazi Central constituency results announced by ECZ show that PF candidate Edgar Lungu obtained 29,979 and UPND candidate Hakainde Hichilema got 4,975 bring the total to 34,954. However, the number of votes cast was 29,741. These kind of errors in computation of results appear to have been widespread.

Conclusion

The 2016 presidential election was marred by irregularities. While we understand that the ECZ worked under adverse conditions and did everything to deliver a credible election, there is still a lot of work to be done to address anomalies and inefficiencies that characterised this election.

But following the declaration of the winner of the presidential election on Monday 15 August, 2016, being the PF candidate, Edgar Chagwa Lungu, FODEP calls on the PF and its leaders to celebrate peacefully and avoid provoking supporters of other parties. The result was close and the winners should respect the losers, who are also quite substantial. Half of the electorate did not vote for the winning candidate. It is therefore important that the winners recognise the right of those who voted for other candidates. Freedom entails respecting the rights of others.

FODEP is saddened by acts of violence by supporters of both the winning and losing parties in Lusaka, Solwezi, Monze, Mongu and other towns which resulted in loss of life and property. We strongly appeal to all Zambians to embrace each other following the elections. Electoral competition should not be turned into war, it is a competition to serve the people. We hope Police and other security agencies will preserve safety of individuals and property during this transition leading to the inauguration of the President-elect.

However, FODEP is mindful that should there be an election petition, transition arrangements as spelt out in the Constitution will be invoked. We hope all those charged with the task of enforcing the law will play their part to ensure that the country is not thrown into a constitutional crisis.

Considering the scale of irregularities and lack of transparency in the transmission, counting, and announcement of results, FODEP is of the view that the just-ended election failed to adhere to the republican Constitution, Electoral Process Act, regional and international standards for a free, fair and credible election.

We appeal to the losers of this election, especially the UPND to exercise maximum restraint. Where they may not be satisfied with the result, we wish to encourage them to follow legal procedures. The Constitution of Zambia, Act number 2 and the Electoral Process Act provides legal avenues that can be used in case of disputes over election results.

The main winners of these elections are the Zambian people whose views and assessment of the contestants was expressed through their vote.

Both winners and losers in this election should look at the results and recognise that the results themselves are an expression of the people’s will.

I thank you.
Shepherd Chilombe

FODEP PRESIDENT

Kalumbila, where FQM’s(First Quantum Mines’) giant $2.1-billion Sentinel mine is located in Zambia’s North-Western province, is perhaps the world’s first mining town designed not to depend on the mine that it currently hosts.

That’s according to an article posted today on the website www.miningforzambia.com.

Some $200-million has been invested in building Kalumbila and making it a viable commercial destination in its own right. When Sentinel mine reaches the end of its working life in about 20 years’ time, it is intended that Kalumbila will not only survive, but thrive.

The town’s airport runway is already the country’s second-longest, and can easily handle mid-size regional jets. When the runway eventually reaches its full design length of 4 km, it will be the longest in the country.
“This will eventually become a major business and tourism hub. Airlines from Angola, South Africa and other countries will be able to fly straight into Kalumbila to drop off passengers and cargo, or simply to re-fuel,” says Michael Kabungo, Town Services Coordinator for the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation.

Kalumbila intends to rival the established Copperbelt town of Kitwe in size and scope by 2050. Several companies have already moved operations to Kalumbila’s industrial zone, attracted by its planned tax incentives, its infrastructure and growth potential, and the proximity of Congo and Angola as export markets. ME Elecmetal, a leading Chilean mine supplier, has concluded a contract with Sentinel mine to construct a multimillion-dollar plant to manufacture high-quality steel mill-balls.

Kalumbila was driven by Gehl Architects, a Danish urban-design consultancy which has worked in more than 250 cities globally. The town was designed around a handful core principles, such as protecting and using nature (minimal environmental disturbance); creating a good foundation for everyday life (priority to walking and cycling); and ensuring the town can grow by attracting private investment (creating infrastructure and incentives for businesses).
To stimulate home-ownership by residents, an innovative rent-to-buy scheme allows a portion of the rent to go towards buying the house; after 14 years, ownership is transferred. To encourage private investment and land acquisition, Kalumbila is owned by the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation, not the mine. It is envisaged that Kalumbila will eventually be classified as an independent town within the larger District, with autonomy to run its own affairs, and ensure revenue raised locally is spent locally.

The viability of Kalumbila is a major reason why highly skilled mining personnel, from the Copperbelt and abroad, relocate their families to this remote corner of Zambia.

However, the measure of Kalumbila’s success is not what it looks like now, but what it will look like in 20 years, when Sentinel eventually closes down. By then, Kalumbila will need to be big enough, and diversified enough, to stand on its own two feet. That means investment, private capital and new businesses.

Despite challenges, the Kalumbila Town Development Corporation is positive and forging ahead. Its view is that success is the best way to silence sceptics. “We will continue to develop Kalumbila and grow its economic base to the point where both government and investors are forced to take notice,” says Kabungo.

With increased innovation in the features of smartphones, there is a rise in citizens becoming journalists sharing updates on their communities through social media and tools such as photography and video. To an extent, smartphones are rapidly replacing laptops and tablets for professionals on the move.

Giving an update on smartphone consumer trends, Huawei country device manager Li Mao noted that smartphones are rapidly becoming tools for business for most users and therefore usage is not limited only to phone calls.

He notes that because they use their phones for a range of activities including email, social media, journalism and photography, smartphone users in Zambia are focusing on battery life as the main feature of their smartphones.

“We’re seeing this across all our range of smartphones where consumers are using their gadgets for journalism, social media, email, photography and video. As consumers begin to explore their gadgets, their expectation from smartphones is that battery power will see them through the day and avoid the inconvenience of having to recharge,” adds Li Mao.

He notes that Huawei’s understanding of consumers’ needs has seen the company introduce the Y6 Pro smartphone which can fully charge within ten minutes but is also able to charge other phones as well.

The Y6 Pro is fitted with an enormous battery and a technology called Reverse Charging which means the handset can be used to charge other phones. Li Mao adds that the Y6 Pro is targeted at consumers that are price-conscious but still looking for a smartphone that has top features such as strong battery, camera and design.

“The focus of our Y series range is to deliver smartphones that excite the market at an affordable range but also deliver a memorable user experience,” he said.

The Y6 Pro comes with a 5-inch high definition (HD) display screen, 5MP selfie camera, 13mega pixels (MP) rear camera, 2GB RAM and 16GB of onboard storage. Other features include Bluetooth 4.0 connectivity, WiFi hotspot, WiFi direct and Dual-SIM support.

The European Union congratulates President-elect Edgar Chagwa Lungu and looks forward to deepening its partnership with the Republic of Zambia.

The people of Zambia participated in large numbers in the general elections on 11 August 2016.
The EU Election Observation Mission’s preliminary assessment found that voting was peaceful and generally well administered. Yet, the EU Election Observation Mission found the elections marred by systematic bias in the state media and restrictions on the campaign.

The EU expects all the political parties and electoral stakeholders to act in order to preserve peace, stability and tolerance in the country. Existing legal channels should be used to address possible complaints.

The EU Election Observation Mission will remain in the country until completion of the electoral process and will issue a final report with recommendations within two months.

Introduction

Since this author was a child in the mid-1950s growing up in the Zambian/ African village, traditional African medicine has always fascinated him. This fascination is not because of mere academic curiosity but because he witnessed the traditional medicine treat and cure some of the most serious chronic diseases and illnesses in himself and among close family members. Since the early 1990s he has also read a great deal about the immune system and how historically viral, bacterial, parasites, HIV/AIDS and other epidemics have been transmitted among human civilizations and populations stretching over thousands of years. His interest in the changing nature of Zambian or African traditional medicine inspired him so much that he actually conducted formal research into the topic in 2002. The research was among the Tumbuka people of Lundazi District in the Eastern Province of Zambia. Some of the findings from the study are in this publication. http://www.hungerforculture.com/?page_id=354 Some of the findings are in this book https://www.amazon.com/Satisfying-Zambian-Hunger-Culture-Social/dp/1479702099

He has just began to compile and analyze more findings from his research notes from 2002. This is one of the series of reports that will soon be published exclusively on the “Hunger for Culture” web page.

Wonders of the Sokolowe Tree

In the Zambian traditional society, a mother might be 2 to 3 months pregnant and has a child who has been weaned. The child cries and whines a lot. The child acts really spoiled and is very clingy to the mother. The mother will consult an elderly person or a traditional healer or ng’anga about the problem. The ng’anga or the village elder might prescribe the roots of theSokolowe tree. The tree bears fruits that people eat. You dig the Sokolowe tree and get the roots. Soak the roots in water.

Use the herbs to cook the nshima Zambian traditional staple meal. The mother will serve the nshima to the child while the child is sitting with siblings and the child’s friends on the chitenje cloth the mother uses for carrying the baby on the back. This cloth is called nguwo.  Semen among the Tumbuka, Chewa and Ngoni is also called nguwo. They will all eat the nshima together. After that the child will no longer cry, whine unnecessarily and be bothersome. The child will enjoy playing with siblings and friends all day.

This is one among dozens of traditional ways in which herbs and rituals were used for the betterment of the individuals in the community. A full detailed report is exclusively available here. http://www.hungerforculture.com/?p=1678

by

Mwizenge S. Tembo, Ph. D.

Professor of Sociology

PF Deputy Spokesperson Frank Bwalya says violent protests by UPND supporters in Southern province are not necessary especially that the party has indicated that it will petition the President Edgar Lungu’s election.

He says protests and attacks on non UPND members over the outcome of last week’s elections are unfortunate.

Mr. Bwalya says this is especially that he is Tonga by tribe and that some of his Tonga family members have become victims of the violence by UPND supporters.
He states the UPND leadership has an obligation to show leadership and calm their members as the Constitutional Court hears its petition.

And the ruling Patriotic Front in Monze District has appealed to the traditional leadership to help in strengthening unity in the country.

PF Monze District Chairman Gilbert Mwila says Zambians cannot afford to live in a divided country, thus the need for the traditional leadership to come on board and provide guidance.

And Mr. Mwila says it is unfair for some UPND supporters to attack PF supporters in the district in the manner they did following the re-election of President Edgar Lungu.

He says politics should not divide the people, but rather strengthen the unity that exists among Zambians.

Mr. Mwila says nothing should come in between that which unites the Zambian people.

Meanwhile, Civil rights activist Brebner Changala has observed that the voting pattern in last Thursday’s general election has exposed the tribalism factor in the Zambian society.

In an interview with QTV news, Mr. Changala says he finds the voting pattern witnessed in the elections as an ugly outlook that needs to be reversed with issue based kind of campaigns.

Mr. Changala says if this is not done, the tribalism will pose a dangerous to the unity of the Zambian people.

He says despite the fact he is consoled that the opposition UPND managed to get votes in the PF strongholds, President Edgar Lungu and the ruling PF should not celebrate their victory.

Mr. Changala says President Lungu should instead sit down and see how the country can be united.

President Edgar Lungu has said that the 252 votes he got from Dundumwezi constituency helped him get to the 50% +1 mark. Dundumwezi constituency in Kalomo District, with a voter turn out of 79% gave President Lungu 252 votes and his main rival, Hakainde Hichilema, 30 810 votes.

Speaking when he thanked PF supporters for ensuring victory in the just ended polls at Woodlands stadium yesterday afternoon, Mr Lungu said the country was one and that he wouldn’t have reached the required 50%+1 without the votes from Dundumwezi and said that his party, Patriotic Front (PF) has a responsibility to show unity even in areas which rejected them and ensure that the country remains united.

“We have a duty to unite this country and I will do it myself! We have a responsibility to show the people on the areas where we didn’t win that we are One Zambia, One Nation. If I didn’t get those 252 votes in Dundumwezi, I wouldn’t have gotten 50% + 1

“I have to go to Southern province, Western province and North-western province because of the job you have given me of One Zambia, One Nation”

The President said there is no need for bitterness and neither is their need for gloating because what is important now is to unite the country in order to create an environment fertile for development across the nation, even in areas that did not vote PF.

If I didn’t get those 252 votes in Dundumwezi, I wouldn’t have gotten 50% + 1

“When there’s extreme bitterness and extreme happiness you create a poison. I want us to continue living under the doctrine of One Zambia One nation regardless of how we voted in the last election. I want to reach out to the people in Western Province, North Western and Southern Province, find out why they did not vote for us so that we can do better in next polls,” President Lungu said.

There were chants of “peace” and “Lungu throughout the hour long address where the President also asked Zambians to remain calm and wait for the inauguration which he said maybe delayed due to a court action taken out by the opposition.

The court action means President Lungu may not be sworn in until after two weeks from the time the action is taken.

The opposition according to Lungu are seeking court action to challenge the poll result that has already been hailed as free and fair by major international observer missions and the church in Zambia.

“I have to go to Southern province, Western province and North-western province because of the job you have given me of One Zambia, One Nation”

President Lungu said, “This meeting was to thank you and let you know we will deliver what we promised. The Zambian people expect a lot. There will be no time for honeymoon. We have a duty to show that we can deliver what we promised. We must not punish those that didn’t vote for us. No single vote is bigger than the other.”

He gave an example of the late President Michael Sata whom after losing the 2008 widely disputed poll asked Zambians to lay down arms instead of supporting the anarchy.

“Mr Sata, when we lost in 2008, said: Stop it!! You, Edgar, you are a lawyer, if this country goes on fire, you an easily go to Tanzania and practice your law, but where will the ordinary people go? Mr. Sata said: if you are not a forgiving leader, how are you going to lead the people!” He said.

President Lungu said the losing candidates have a choice to either go to court, concede defeat and start working towards 2021 polls.

“I am in charge do not let anyone deceive you. Peace and unity and reconciliation is very important. I thank you very much for having shown confidence in me and the PF, ” President Lungu said.

Mr Lungu also said there is need to ensure women and youths are incorporated in the governance of the country.

“We need to have enough women and youths in our governance to reflect the very people who we are.Allow me retreat to form a proper Cabinet.I am asking for your patience, peace and understanding as we await the outcome of the court.”