Zambia electoral body criticized over ballot paper dispatch

Political parties in Zambia on Thursday confronted the country's electoral body on its decision to start transporting ballot papers to various parts of the country at night and in the absence of all stakeholders.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and stakeholders completed the verification of the ballot papers on Wednesday ahead of next week's general elections and the transportation of the papers to districts was scheduled to commence on Thursday and witnessed by all stakeholders.

But the opposition Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) said stakeholders were annoyed that the electoral body decided to start transporting ballot papers at night contrary to what was agreed.

"Yesterday all political parties and other stakeholders who went to witness the loading and dispatching of ballot papers agreed with ECZ that the loading and dispatching of ballot papers at the ECZ warehouse should be done today in the presence of all stakeholders. However, last night ECZ, in the absence of stakeholders, loaded ballot papers and dispatched seven trucks to unknown destination," said Antonio Mwanza, the party's spokesperson.

Charles Kakoma, spokesperson of the main opposition United Party for National Development (UPND), also wondered why his party was not involved in the dispatchment of the ballot papers as it is a major stakeholder.

He said the electoral body needed to be transparent in the way it was conducting itself and that it should not involve itself in matters that were raising suspicions ahead of next week's general elections.

But Crispin Akufuna, the electoral body's public relations manager, has defended the decision to dispatch the ballot papers in the absence of the stakeholders.

He said the electoral body made contacts with stakeholders on its decision to dispatch the ballot papers early, especially in far-flung areas where it usually faces challenges.

Akufuna said the stakeholders should not worry because electoral officials at districts have been informed and that all stakeholders in respective districts will have an opportunity to verify the ballot papers once they arrive.

"The ECZ has nothing to hide; where we have a genuine mistake, we will own up, but to try and cheat the people of Zambia is the last thing for us," he said in a live interview on Hot FM radio.

Suspicions have heightened ahead of the Aug. 11 elections.

On Tuesday, supporters of the main opposition party intercepted eight trucks in the southern part of the country on suspicion that they were carrying pre-marked ballot papers. But the trucks were found to be empty after inspections. The trucks were bought by the electoral body to for ferrying election materials. Endit