ZDDM fears voter apathy during January 20th poll

Zambia Direct Democracy Movement (ZDDM) says it fears voter apathy may affect the outcome of next week’s presidential election if the majority of voters choose to remain as spectators.

ZDDM President Edwin Sakala says an assessment his party has made on the ground in most parts of the country has revealed that most citizens are under the belief that they do not need to vote.

Mr Sakala says this altitude is a great source of concern to his party organization.

He says it is for this reason that they are advocating that the next constitution must have a provision to compel citizens to vote in elections especially those called to elect parliamentarians and a president.

Mr Sakala states that while they acknowledge that there are genuine reasons which can make citizens fail to vote, a provision can be made in the law that people can make advance arrangements which can make it possible for them to vote from another polling station within the country for as long as they make necessary notification.

He says as ZDDM they believe it is necessary for every citizen to vote as this would usher in candidates who are fully accepted by the electorates.