Millions of Zambians are voting on today in general and presidential elections as voting gets underway in most parts of the country.

Long queues have been forming up in Lusaka as early as 4:00 am, with voters eager to cats their votes.

President Edgar Lungu is seeking a second term and faces a challenge from Hakainde Hichilema and a host of other candidates including former Vice President Nevers Mumba and Socialist party President Fred M’membe, who is contesting for the first time.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has promised a transparent and credible process.

Last night, President Edgar Lungu urged Zambians to uphold peace as they turn up to cast their votes in today’s general election.

President Lungu said that Zambia is a peaceful nation adding that the status quo should remain the same as the electorate cast their votes.

Speaking during a national address on the eve of the 12 August general election on ZNBC , the head of state further urged Zambians against practicing any form of tribalism.

Mr Lungu said Zambians must not be swayed by acts of tribalism even as they cast their votes in the highly anticipated election.

“ I am determined for peace to be upheld hence my decision to deploy defense personnel in selected parts of the country to maintain law and order during and after the election, ‘’ he said.

He defended the move saying the peace that has been recorded in the recent past is as a result of the step taken.

The President said citizens should not be intimidated by the presence of soldiers in some parts of the country as the move is purely meant to main law and order.

Mr Lungu clarified that the defence force has only been deployed in selected parts of the country and not nationwide.

“I want to make it very clear that this measure to deploy soldiers is not national as you may have noticed. It is not in all areas but in selected troubled spots and people are going about their business normally contrary to what our opponents, some diplomats and some international media are reporting,” Mr Lungu said.

The President urged the electorate to turn in numbers to vote freely without any intimidation.

Mr Lungu called on the electorate to report to law enforcement officers anyone who will threaten them with violence as they turn up to vote.

The head of states urged citizens to also pray for peace to prevail during the general polls.

President Lungu further urged the Zambia Army to see to it that law and order is maintained.

“I therefore urge the defence forces led by the Army Commander to ensure total national security,” he said.

And head of state also urged Zambians to comply with COVID-19 preventive guidelines as they cast their votes.

With nine hours to go, the country’s 7, 0223, 499 registered voters are due to elect their Republican President, parliamentary and local government representatives including mayors and district chairpersons for the next five years.

President Edgar Lungu says adequate security has been put in place as the country goes for polls tomorrow August 12, 2021. President Lungu explains that the deploying of police officers and other defence wings is meant to curb lawlessness during the election period.

The Head of State has since assured the public that tomorrow’s voting will be conducted in a peaceful and conducive environment.

He stressed that there is a government in place even as people exercise their democratic right tomorrow adding that He will only hand over power after the election results are announced.

“ There is a government in place even as people exercise their democratic right tomorrow. I will only hand over power after the election results are announced,” he said.

President Lungu furthermore urged the contenders in tomorrow’s general elections to allow Electoral Commission of Zambia ( ECZ ) to do its job professionally.

In his speech today during the last PF virtual rally held at Mulungushi international conference centre, President Lungu dwelt mainly on the need to uphold peace before, during and after the election results are announced.

He advised political parties taking part in tomorrow’s polls to emulate the PF for not resorting to violence after having lost the 2001, 2006, and 2008 elections.

“ The then PF leader late Michael State restrained members from engaging in political violence after losing the elections three times in a role, “ he said.

He counseled the victors of tomorrow’s polls not to habour anger or vengeance against the losers of the general elections.

Meanwhile President Lungu took a swipe at people who have been approaching him to accept defeat in tomorrow’s polls.

President Lungu wondered the motive of the people who have been asking him to accept defeat even before the votes are cast.

“ How the PF administration can lose the elections after having delivered development in parts of the country, “ he questioned.

Citing the energy sector his administration has invested massively in a bid to curb power blackouts in the country, President Lungu said the country now has enough energy to even export in the sub-region.

And speaking earlier at the same event, President Lungu’s running mate Professor Nkandu Luo has urged Zambians to vote for the PF party in tomorrow’s general elections.

Pro Luo implored women, men and youths to turnout in large numbers tomorrow and vote President Lungu for another term.

Meanwhile, -Inspector General of Police Kakoma Kanganja says 12, 152 police officers will be deployed across the country to police all the polling stations during the general elections on Thursday, August 12, 2021.

Mr. Kanganja said despite the inadequate number of police officers, the Zambia Police is ready to enforce the law in order to ensure peace prevails during Thursday’s general elections.

The Police Chief explained in a press statement issued to ZANIS in Lusaka today that all the 12, 152 polling stations will be manned by one police officer and other reinforcements.

Mr. Kanganja said that Zambia falls short of the international policing standard of one police officer to 250 people noting that the country has a ratio of one police officer policing 1,000 people.

He said this compelled the police service to seek reinforcements from other state security agencies such as the defence force, Zambia Correctional Service, Immigration and Zambia Wildlife Authority, who will maintain security within the 400 radius of the polling stations.

Mr. Kanganja explained that the presence of military personnel is not intended to intimidate the electorate and members of the general public but to maintain law and order, save life and property and uphold human rights.

“The police service and the defence force are working towards a common goal in this election, that of ensuring that people cast their vote in a peaceful environment without any intimidation from anyone and ensuring that communities are kept safe during and after the election,” he said.

He further said reinforcements will help the police to quell pockets of political violence being recorded across the country and ensure that heinous crimes committed by political cadres in the 2016 general elections are prevented.

He said the political violence has led to loss of lives and property hence the police will not let that to recur and disrupt the electoral process.

Mr. Kanganja has since urged political parties to comply when the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) closes campaigns on Wednesday at 18 hours.

He said police and the military have been directed to arrest anyone campaigning after the deadline as it is a breach of the electoral code of conduct.

The Police Chief reiterated that no political party regalia and loitering at polling stations within 400 metres will be allowed at polling stations and that no illegal public gatherings will be entertained.

He said police officers have been directed to be vigilant, alert and firm and use the provisions of the law to deal with law breakers during this election period.

Mr. Kanganja assured the general public of safety and urged the electorate not to fear and shun the polls but turn up in large numbers to vote.

The police chief warned people against alarming the nation by posting unverified statements and results on social media.

“I am warning individuals and groupings with such tendencies that they risk being arrested once found. Police will closely work with ZICTA to ensure that such individuals are caged,” said Mr. Kanganja.

He urged peace loving Zambians to work with the police and report all malpractices and violence, and make usage of the toll free lines of 9010 and 9011.

President Edgar Lungu has today toured various markets in four constituencies in Lusaka. The President’s tour attracted huge crowds of people was in Mandevu, Matero, Lusaka Central and Kabwata constituencies as people jostled to catch a glimpse of the Head of State.

Dr. Lungu, who was accompanied by Disaster Management and Mitigation Unit (DMMU) National Coordinator Chanda Kabwe and Patriotic Front (PF) parliamentary candidates in respective constituencies, distributed face masks to marketeers.

President Lungu started his tour with Katambalala market and Mandevu Big market both in Mandevu constituency. Dr. Lungu then proceeded to Mwamba Luchembe market and Lilanda market in Lilanda township of Matero constituency.

The Head of State later toured Simon Mwewa Lane market in the central business district which falls under Lusaka Central constituency followed by Chilenje market in Kabwata constituency.

And speaking to journalists after touring Simon Mwewa Lane market, President Lungu said there is need to upgrade most of the markets in the city.

Dr. Lungu also assured marketeers that his government will embark on upgrading the markets once re-elected.

“Development is a process, it is not a one day event. Slowly we are getting there but if you compare where we are coming from and where we are now, you have all the more reason to vote for us tomorrow,” he said.

The President also said he was impressed with the quality work by the Zambia National Service (ZNS) and the Zambia Army who built the some new markets.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has urged marketeers to continue following the Covid-19 preventive health guidelines.

Dr. Lungu said even as people cast their votes tomorrow, they should not drop their guard down in the fight against the pandemic.

“Mule fwala ama mask, ubulwele bwa Covid ubu ubwishileko. Nami letelako na sanitizer pakweba ati mule suba (You should be wearing your face masks in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. I have also brought you hand sanitizer for you to be applying)” he said.

And speaking at Chilenje market, DMMU National Coordinator, Chanda Kabwe said his institution has distributed face masks to all polling stations countrywide.

“All the 12,000 polling stations have been supplied. In all the stations, personal protective equipment has been distributed,” Mr. Kabwe said.

Meanwhile, Vice-president Inonge Wina has urged the people of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency in Ndola to retain Hon Jonas Chanda as their Member of Parliament. And Mrs Wina has said the PF governemnt was prioritising to better the lives of marketeers because a lot of members of parliament were raised by marketeers.

This came to light when Her Honour the Vice-president went to tour the new Mushili Market in Mushili township of Bwana Mkubwa Constituency on her one-day working visit in Ndola today.
Mrs Wina was checking on government projects and meeting governance stakeholders in Ndola.

Speaking when she toured the site, Mrs Wina said Hon Jonas Chanda had performed behind expectation when he served as Bwana Mkubwa MP for the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) which led to President Edgar Lungu appointing him Minister of Water and Sanitation and later Minister of Health.

She said having worked with Him Chanda when she served as Leader of Government Business in Parliament, she was confident that Hon Chanda was going to deliver to the expectation of the people of Bwana Mkubwa again.

“I worked with this young man when we were in Parliament. He is a very good debater and capable representative for the people this Constituency,” Mrs Wina assured.

Mrs Wina has also encouraged them to go out very early and in large numbers to vote for President Lungu, Hon Chanda and other PF adopted candidates.

She has warned them against voting for independent candidates because they have failed to represent them well as they fail to lobby for development and others ended up frustrating Government efforts to bring development to the people so as to paint the PF government as a failure.

“Don’t vote for independent candidates. These will fail to bring development for you because they don’t have a president to lobby from. They are like orphans,” Mrs Wina advised.
And Mrs Wina has commended marketeers for playing a critical role in the development of the nation by raising individuals who ended up becoming political leaders who served the country at various l levels of governance.

She said the PF government recognised that fact and that was why it was bent on improving their livelihoods.

Meanwhile, Hon Chanda has urged the people of Bwana Mkubwa to vote for President Edgar Lungu in large numbers so that unprecedented development like the Mushili Market and many others should continue.
He has also expressed optimism to scooping the Bwana Mkubwa seat again owing to the development which he had rolled out in the area under the leadership of President Lungu and the Patriotic Front.

“Go out and vote President Lungu and PF tomorrow and continue seeing such development in Bwana Mkubwa,” Hon Chanda assured.

Earlier, Her Honour the Vice President was led around the market where she interacted with the traders and marketeers and bought their merchandise much to their joy.