By PERPETUAL  SICHIKWENKWE –
UNITED Party for National Development (UPND) supporters yesterday ‘impounded’ two South African trucks they suspected of carrying pre-marked ballot papers for the January 20, 2015 presidential election.
The trucks, which were headed for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), were diverted to the Lusaka Central Police Station.
But after an inspection conducted in the presence of UPND supporters, ECZ officials, Zambia Revenue Authority (ZRA) officers, police officers and other stakeholders, it was revealed that the trucks were laden with chairs, tables, lanterns and batteries for use during the election in various polling stations countrywide.
Some UPND officials who besieged the Lusaka Central Police had vowed not to leave the station until ECZ and the police conducted a search to establish what was on the trucks.
The party officials were alerted about the trucks by people who suspected foul play because the trucks did not go through the border scanning process in Chirundu on grounds that they had a special delivery for the ECZ.
The trucks, belonging to African Cargo Management, registrations numbers FKB 685FS and FKB 711FS and B J45GP and WPM 258 GP, were guided by the police to Lusaka Central police and later to ECZ offices where they were inspected.

. Akufuna

ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna has since warned political parties and other stakeholders not to raise unnecessary alarm over unfounded allegations.
Mr Akufuna said political parties should leave the commission to do its work in peace.
Meanwhile, the verification of ballot papers for the presidential election started yesterday at the ECZ warehouse in Silverest area in Lusaka in readiness for disbursement to polling stations.
Mr Akufuna said each of the 11 political parties participating in the election had two representatives to witness the verification process.