Former Diplomat to the Federal Republic of Nigeria who is also Member of the Patriotic Front (PF) Party National Mobilization team Christine Phiri has warned opposition political parties to stop misleading voters on the referendum vote. Mrs. Phiri told ZANIS in Katete that it was worrisome to see the amount of lies been peddled by the opposition political parties to stop people from voting for the referendum.

She said during her campaign tour in Eastern province she has discovered that many voters have been misled by the opposition political parties who want to cause voter apathy by lying to people that the referendum vote was a scheme of rigging the elections by the Patriotic Front (PF) and also a way of allowing homosexuality in Zambia.

She explained that the Patriotic Front party has gone round the country to encourage people to vote (YES) in the referendum as it has seen the potential the proposed bill of rights has in adding value to people’s lives.

She added that the referendum vote was nothing political but aimed at increasing the number of rights and freedoms people of Zambia enjoy and further compel government to provide for its citizens.

Mrs. Phiri further explained that discouraging people from voting for the referendum was tantamount to denying them of their good and casting a spell on their future.

She noted that the referendum vote has nothing to do with political votes that will be cast on the Presidential, parliamentary, ward councillors and council chairpersons as it was meant to accept or deny additions proposed in the bill of rights which are aimed at strengthening the current rights people enjoy.

She urged people of Zambia to turn out in large numbers on 11 th August and vote for the Patriotic Front president and candidates at all levels together with the Referendum for Zambia to continue on its developmental path. She said people should understand that the Presidential election will be held under a majoritarian system which requires that the winner amasses over 50 percent plus 1 vote failure to which a fresh election will be called. She pointed out that people should further understand that failure to have a presidential winner in the first election will be costly for the nation and will derail development as more resources will be lost.

Meanwhile Mrs. Phiri has expressed happiness at the amount of support the people of Msolo in Mambwe district have rendered to the Patriotic Front government. She said on Tuesday during her courtesy call on Chief Msolo at his palace, Chief Msoro thanked President Edgar Lungu for increasing the monthly allowance to traditional leaders in the country.

Mrs. Phiri said the Chief requested her to pass on his gratitude to the president adding that the increment had come at a right time when many chiefs in the country were suffering. She said the Chief in his speech explained that Chiefs in the country had a huge role to play as custodians of the people hence needed adequate support to help them manage their affairs. After her Courtesy call the former Diplomat explained that she late held a meeting at the Msolo palace where 16 indunas and headmen attended to listen to her referendum sensitization massage and campaign for President Edgar Lungu.

She noted that among other things that the people of Msolo were looking forward was the construction of Katete- Msolo road to open a trade route among between the two districts. She however assured the people of Msolo that the Patriotic Front government once elected back into office will ensure that all developmental projects here-marked are started and completed on time.

A 38 year old man of Sakambunda village in Chiyeke died on the spot after he jumped off a moving truck that was ferrying UPND supporters from a rally which was held at Moses Luneta grounds in Chavuma district.

North Western Province commissioner of Police Luckson Sakala confirmed the incident and identified the deceased as Sunday Kasoka.

Mr Sakala said Mr Kasoka jumped off a Benz truck registration number ABT 9872 which was being driven by Benjamin Sakandula,27 , of Zambezi district who was suspected to be under the influence of alcohol.

Mr. Sakala said the incident occurred between 16:00 and 17:50 hrs in Chiyeke and Kasoka sustained a suspected fractured skull and bled heavily from the mouth.

The deceased’s body has since been deposited in Chavuma Mission Hospital mortuary awaiting post-mortem.

Meanwhile UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has promised the people Kabompo to revamp the defunct North Western Bee company if the his party formed government after August 11.

Addressing a rally at Kaunda Square, Mr Hichilema said the Kabompo-based company did not only produce honey products of international standard but also provided employment to the local people hence the need to reopen it.

He said Kabompo was not only reach in natural honey but also in other natural resources such as timber which if well enhanced could provide employment to the local people and revenue for the nation.

The UPND leader has also promised to the people in Kabompo to revamp the agriculture sector by giving farmers enough farming inputs so that they increased on their production which would in turn result in the reduction of mealie meal price.

He also said the UPND was the only visionary party which could deliver development to the expectation of the Zambian people.
“I am offering myself and the entire UPND to you the people of Kabompo so that we develop this country,” he said.

He also appealed to the electorates to vote for the UPND candidates at all levels so that when his party formed government after 11 August development could be fostered in the area.

And addressing a rally in Mufumbwe, Mr Hichilema promised to reinstate fired civil servants.

Verification of ballot papers for the August 11 general elections has started at the Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- warehouse in Chongwe District’s Silverest area.

Briefing the various stakeholders participating in the verification exercise, ECZ Principal Electoral Officer Policy and Procedure Steve Nyondo said the commission will start with the verification of presidential ballots.

Mr Nyondo has appealed to Returning Officers and their Assistants participating in the process to prioritise the exercise and not squeeze in personal business during the three day exercise.

He has also advised stakeholders to always carry their identification cards because they will not be allowed to enter the premises.

Mr Nyondo has also urged participants in the exercise to refrain from bringing unnecessary language in the warehouse or taking pictures of ballots which may incriminate them.

Mr. Nyondo adds that the verification which has commenced today is expected to end on 31st July.

Various stakeholders who include political party representatives, the media and observers are taking part in the verification process

Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Public relations Manager Chris Akufuna has explained that the people who witnessed the printing of papers remained in Dubai because it was not convenient for them to come back in Zambia alongside the two cargo planes,reports Pan African Radio journalist Hermit Hachilonde.

Speaking immediately after the second Etihad cargo plane touched down at 18:45 hours which departed Dubai at 13:10 hours yesterday, Mr. Akufuna said said political players through their representatives on Friday the 30th July, 2016 at 08:00 hours will verify the ballot papers, adding that ECZ will give the observers the documentation that was given to the printing company for ease verification in a transparent manner.

“The witnesses could not come because these are cargo planes, they will come on Saturday the 31st July, 2016″ Mr. Akufuna said

Meanwhile, Rainbow Party representative Patrick Phiri expressed uncertainties in the manner ECZ have handled transportation of ballot papers.

He said the electoral body should have given the stakeholders documents showing exactly what were in the two planes before touchdown in the country, stating that as Rainbow party they only had information that there were sixty-three pallets of the presidential ballot papers.

” we are only complaining that ECZ did not give us the document showing what the two planes brought from Dubai, we are only told that they are 63 pallets for presidential ballot papers” he said

Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland has appointed former Tanzanian President Jakaya Kikwete to lead the Commonwealth observer in the forthcoming general elections and national referendum in Zambia scheduled for 11 August 2016.

According to a media release, the decision to send observers follows an invitation from the Government of Zambia.

Ms Scotland says conducting the electoral processes in an inclusive, peaceful and credible manner is a demonstration of Zambia’s enduring commitment as a Commonwealth member to the culture of democracy and to nation-building.

“In solidarity with the people of Zambia, the Commonwealth will be present to observe these polls and will continue to work with relevant Zambian institutions towards further strengthening the country’s democracy,” she says.

Ms Scotland says holding peaceful and successful elections is a high responsibility for the people and institutions of all Commonwealth member states.

She says all Zambians including the election management body, political parties and their leaders, the citizenry, civil society, security agencies, the media and voters have a duty and responsibility to ensure a peaceful process and a credible outcome.

The Commonwealth Observer Group will consider the pre-election environment and election preparations.

On election day, the team will observe the voting, vote-counting and results procedures with reference to national legislation and to the international democratic standards to which Zambia has committed itself.

As with all Commonwealth Observer Groups, the mission will function impartially and independently and will conduct itself according to the standards expressed in the International Declaration of Principles for Election Observation.

An advance group of observers was deployed to Zambia on 22 July while the rest of the team is expected to arrive in Lusaka on 4 August.

The Commonwealth Observer Group will consist of 17 eminent persons led by former President Jakaya Kikwete, is supported by a staff team from the Commonwealth Secretariat headed by Mrs Yvonne Apea Mensah.