- Electoral body urges parties to monitor elections
GIDEON NYENDWA,
MAYENGO NYIRENDA
Sioma,
Chipili
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it does not ‘manufacture results’, with a call on political parties to deploy adequate polling agents to safeguard electoral transparency.
ECZ commissioner McDonald Chipenzi said political parties should take responsibility for monitoring elections instead of accusing the electoral body of manipulating results when they fail to deploy sufficient agents.
Mr Chipenzi said this in Sioma District yesterday during a stakeholders’ briefing ahead of tomorrow’s Mbeta ward by election.
“Our role as a commission is to count votes, and not to manufacture votes. We don’t manufacture votes. We only want counts,” he said.
Mr Chipenzi said some political parties and civil society organisations recruit fewer polling agents than the number of polling stations, creating gaps in monitoring the electoral process.
He said such shortcomings should not be used to accuse ECZ of electoral malpractice without credible evidence.
Mr Chipenzi said preparations for the Mbeta ward poll have been completed, adding that the political environment remains generally calm.
He urged stakeholders to observe the electoral code of conduct and follow lawful instructions from the ECZ and security agencies.
Mr Chipenzi also called on the media to provide fair and accurate election coverage. https://enews.daily-mail.co.zm/welcome/home
