FANNY KALONDA
Lusaka
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has dismissed assertions that it is secretly changing electoral laws, describing the rumours as misleading.
In a statement, ECZ chief electoral officer Brown Kasarо said the process of amending any Act of Parliament cannot be undertaken unilaterally by the commission.
This follows media reports suggesting that the electoral body is secretly altering electoral rules and introducing electronic voting ahead of the 2026 polls.
The reports also suggest that a draft statutory instrument introducing biometric voting is already sitting with the Ministry of Justice, ready for approval.
But Mr Kasaro highlighted that there will be no electronic voting during the 2026 general elections.
He said the commission’s position on electronic voting remains unchanged and any claims suggesting otherwise are aimed at inciting the public.
Mr Kasaro clarified that the automated biometric identification system (ABIS) does not involve voting or tallying of results and, therefore, it is not an electronic voting system.
“It is also important to distinguish between the automated biometric identification system and electronic or what is being referred to as biometric voting.
“ABIS, which has been in use since 2004, is purely a tool in voter registration designed to prevent duplicate registrations and ensure the integrity of the register of voters,” he said…https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
