. Akufuna

By CATHERINE NYIRENDA –
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is disappointed that political parties have u-turned on the agreement to use the new result management system to improve transmission of results.
The commission recently announced that it would use the pilot electronic system to transmit results in Kasenengwa and Vubwi constituencies for the September 11, 2014 by-elections.
ECZ spokesperson Cris Akufuna said in an interview yesterday that the commission met and agreed with the political party representatives on their plans to introduce a new result management system in elections.
“The political parties were agreeable to the new system of election result management, but we are now surprised that the leaders of the political parties are suspicious that ECZ should use it on a pilot basis in the September 11, 2014 by-elections for Kasenengwa and Vubwi,” he said.
Mr Akufuna said the commission would be trying the electronic result management system for the second time as they used it in the Katuba by-election where the United Party for National Development (UNDP) candidate Jonas Shakafuswa emerged victorious.
He said as the commission tried the new system in the by-elections, it would also use the old process to maintain transparency.
Mr Akufuna said the new system was meant to improve the transmission of results using cell phones from the polling centres, to the polling station, and to the totalling centre.
He said once the project proved to be effective, it would be used in all upcoming elections as well as the 2016 general elections.
MMD president Nevers Mumba, however, rejected the last-minute decision by the ECZ to use a pilot electronic system to transmit the Kasenengwa and Vubwi by-election results in Eastern Province.
Dr Mumba wondered why the ECZ waited until the last minute to introduce this system and why it had only been introduced in the two by-elections in Eastern Province but nowhere else.
He said ECZ should have called all stakeholders and briefed them in good time rather than sneaking in the system without proper consultations.
“We are not against using technology and in fact we ourselves are making use of it in our campaigns, but the timing of this decision by ECZ is highly questionable, especially when you realise that the system is only being introduced in our stronghold in Eastern Province where the PF knows they cannot win,” Dr Mumba said.
“Many of our members and supporters are upset and are convinced this is another cheap ploy by the PF to manipulate the by-elections, just as they did in Mangango.”
Dr Mumba demanded that ECZ immediately withdraws the electronic system and introduce it in future by-elections, and only after exhaustive discussions.
PF deputy general secretary Bridget Atanga said the ECZ was at liberty to introduce systems that were aimed at enhancing the electoral process but that the ruling party’s position would only be given later.