Roan election materials secure-ECZ
By Staff Reporter
The Electoral Commission of Zambia says the election materials for Thursday’s Roan parliamentary by-election are secured and safe.
ECZ public relation manager Margaret Chimanse in a statement assured the nation of the integrity of the polls and that election materials had not gone missing from the Commission.
Chimanse said the Commission is ready to conduct Polls on April 11, 2019.
“(i) All materials have been received in readiness for polls on Thursday 11th April, 2019;(ii)The materials are secured and under the custody of the Electoral Commission of Zambia; and(iii)Poll staff training is currently underway including briefing of political party agents and police,” said Chimanse
She has since urged all political party stakeholders to continue with their peaceful campaigns and to allow the people of Roan to vote freely on poll day.
On Saturday, opposition National Democratic Congress Party said that ballot papers had been moved from Luanshya Civic Center to Choolwe guest house where some known pf officials were present.
The NDC reported that access roads to Choolwe Guest House were all closed making the allegations even more believable.
NDC leader Chishimba Kambwili, Members of the Central Committee and other members of the party reported the matter to Luanshya Central Police.
According to a statement issued on Saturday, the NDC said the police told them that they could institute any investigations until the officer in charge Sibanda was around.
But PF youth chairperson Stephen Kampyongo expressed his disappointed with claims made by NDC.
Kampyongo has since called on Kambwili to follow right procedure because when ballot papers are moved they accompanied by party representatives.
“ECZ has been conducting elections in this country and not at any point where ECZ has moved the ballot papers from where they are being secured without the knowledge from the concerned parties. They are just feeling the heat that people of Roan have received the massage from the PF,” said Kampyongo.
Meanwhile, People’s Alliance for Change president Andyford Banda said his party was committed to peaceful campaigns until the poll day.
Banda was speaking when he met with Mines minister Richard Musukwa and Livestock minister Kampamba Mulenga on their campaign trail.
“We are grateful for their commitment,” he said
