By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
THE ballot papers for the forthcoming by-elections to be held in three constituencies will be printed in Johannesburg, South Africa, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said.
ECZ public relations manager, Cris Akufuna said in an interview yesterday that the preparations to conduct the by-elections in Chawama (Lusaka ), Masaiti (Ndola) and Senga Hills (Mbala) onstituencies were progressing well with the Commission contracting REN-FORM CC Printers to print the ballot papers.
REN-FORM CC is the company that printed the ballot papers for the January 20 2015 Presidential election.
Mr Akufuna said following the filing in of nomination papers by political parties’ participating in the by-elections in three constituencies, the Commission was now ready to proceed and have the ballot papers printed in South Africa.
Meanwhile, ECZ will conduct sensitisation programmes for traditional leaders in Mbala and Masaiti on the electoral code of conduct.
Mr Akufuna said that traditional leaders would be sensitised on their role in the electoral process so that they do not engage in acts of intimidating their subjects on which candidate to vote for.
He also disclosed that the Commission would hold youth conferences in the constituencies to sensitise youths on the voting process.
Mr Akufuna said that invitations have already been sent to political parties to send their youths to the conferences which will be held tomorrow.
On allegations by opposition United Party for National Development (UPND) president Hakainde Hichilema that ECZ had concealed the holding of by-elections in some of the wards to enable PF go unopposed, Mr Akufuna refuted the claims.
Mr Akufuna explained that notices were placed in the media to inform all political parties about areas where by-elections would to be held.
He said ECZ only becomes aware about vacancies in wards when it is informed by district council officers.
Mr Akufuna said in the upcoming by-elections, there were some wards which the Commission was initially not aware about but when it was informed, those involved were advertised.
