Stakeholders in Zambia against plans allowing prisoners to vote

Stakeholders in Zambia on Monday opposed government's plans to allow prisoners to participate in this year's general election.

Last week, Minister of Home Affairs Davies Mwila said all prisoners with voters' registration cards will be allowed to vote during the August 11 general election, saying the law provides for the inmates to exercise their right to vote.

The announcement has been backed by the Prisons Care and Counseling Association (PRISCCA), an organization that fights for the rights of prisoners.

But Dan Kalale, a former director of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), said allowing prisoners to participate in voting will not be an easy undertaking because it poses many challenges.

He said issues on whether the electoral body will provide polling stations in prisons or whether the prisoners will be taken to polling stations outside prison should be considered before inmates are allowed to vote, adding that safe guard measures should be put in place to counter possible manipulation.

"In case this is in the amended constitution, it still doesn't sit well because ECZ doesn't seem to have taken that consideration in their preparations of August 11 event," he added.

Macdonald Chipenzi, former executive director of the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), said the minister's directive was illegal and that the electoral body to guide the nation on the matter.

The opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) has since challenged the electoral body to issue a categorical statement stating its position on the matter with regards to the provisions of the law.

"The announcement that inmates with voters' cards will be allowed to vote in the forthcoming elections is illegal, unconstitutional and will not be tolerated," Antonio Mwanza, the party's spokesperson said, adding the Electoral Act is very clear that inmates/convicts and all those under police custody cannot be allowed to vote in the national elections. Endit