Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Zambia: Electoral body begins ballot paper distribution

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has today commenced the distribution of ballot papers to all districts ahead of next week’s presidential election.

ECZ Public relations Manager Crispin Akufuna has confirmed the development in a statement issued to QFM New today.

The country will next week Tuesday 20th January hold the presidential by-election following President Michael Sata’s death in October last year.

Eleven presidential candidates are contesting for the presidency.

Meanwhile the Electoral Commission of Zambia and political parties participating in the presidential election have resolved to condemn in the strongest terms the intolerance and violence recently witnessed during political party campaigns.

This follows a meeting that was held at the ECZ today 13th January and attended by Police Inspector General Stella Libongani,Bishop Joshua Banda of Northmead Assemblies of God,Fr Cleophas Lungu of the Zambia Episcopal Conference and Reverend Pukuta Mwanza of the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna says the meeting further resolved that presidential candidates of the Patriotic Front and United Party for National Development should publicly condemn violence at their rallies.

Mr Akufuna says the presidential candidate should preach peace and also stop their respective political party cadres from engaging in all forms of violence in the remaining days for political campaigns.

And the ECZ today held a meeting with UPND vice president Dr Canisius Banda and senior UPND officials over Dr Banda’s allegations during a recent media briefing he held.

-Lusaka Times

No comments:

Post a Comment