By REBECCA MUSHOTA –
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) will consider printing ballot papers for the 2016 general elections in Zambia.
ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac said on ‘Let the people talk’ programme on Radio Phoenix yesterday that the Commission would consider printing ballot boxes at Government Printers in Lusaka if all logistics were put in place.
Ms Isaac said ECZ could print ballot papers at Government Printers if the company met all the requirements of security, adequacy, equipment and specifications.
“We can also do it if all the stakeholders allowed it. That is an important issue because some of our stakeholders do not have faith in Zambian institutions,” she said.
Ms Isaac also said the Information Technology (IT) members of staff at ECZ are competent and Zambians should have faith in them.
She said this when responding to a comment from a member of the public who felt that some IT officials at ECZ could connive with some political parties to manipulate election results.
Ms Isaac said she had faith in the IT staff and that there was need for Zambians to equally trust the staff at ECZ and believe that they would not temper with the process.
Ms Isaac said the ECZ IT staff were commended in the region and Zambians should appreciate them as well.
She, however, said in the event that any of the IT staff were found wanting, they would end up in court where if prosecuted, could spend five years in prison with hard labour.
Ms Isaac also said the date for the Chawama Parliamentary by-election would be announced by the end of the week.
The seat was until recently held by President Edgar Lungu.