By SYLVESTER MWALE –
MORE than 300,000 people have been registered as voters during the first phase of the two-week voter registration exercise which started on September 14.
Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) public relations manager Chris Akufuna said a total of 301,103 were registered during the exercise which came to an end on September 27, 2015.
Mr Akufuna said in a statement in Lusaka yesterday that another 324,941 were updated which included voter transfers, card replacements and amendments.
The commission also received 2,342 notifications of deceased voters. Of the 301,103, men accounted for 161,210 while a total of 139,893 females registered as new voters.
Lusaka Province recorded the highest number with 61,906 people registering as voters followed by Southern which recorded 49,002 listing as voters.
North-Western Province had the lowest figure at 10,381, while Copperbelt was third with 34,564 people. Central Province recorded 32,166 people; Northern (28,757), Eastern (25,758), Muchinga (23,059), while Western and Luapula 20,808 and 14,702, respectively.
Mr Akufuna advised all citizens in possession of the green National Registration Cards (NRCs) and who were 18 years of age and above to ensure that they registered as voters.
“All persons with disabilities should ensure that their disability is recorded by a registration officer even if they are already registered.
“The information gathered will assist the commission prepare adequately for person with disabilities in the forthcoming elections,” he said.
He also advised that people who registered in 2005/06 should not register again because their voters’ cards were still valid.