Voting underway in presidential election

Voting is underway in the presidential election to elect the Zambia’s sixth President.

Voting in most polling stations opened at exactly 06:00 hours in accordance with the Electoral law.

While the morning rains in Lusaka slowed down the momentum of people trooping to polling stations, this did not stop some people from braving the rains to cast their vote.

In most polling stations visited by Qfm field staffers in Lusaka revealed a mixed turnout of voters with some polling stations recording a good turn out while voting in other polling stations started on a slow pace.

At UNZA Sports Hall polling station which has a registered voters of 5,000 at 06:45 hour had 50 people had cast their votes.

Presiding officer Oliver Kabombo said it was easy to have fifty people cast their votes as early as 06:45 hours because the polling station has eight streams.

At Kamwala High school polling station which has a total of 1,263 registered voters, presiding officer Terries Muyumbwe expressed worry over the low voter turnout.

He said the polling station opened at 06:00 hours and less than 50 people had cast their votes by 09:30 hours.

Mr Muyumbwe attributed the low voter turnout to the rains, but was hopeful that more people will turn out to cast their votes as the day progresses.

At ST Patricks Basic School which has two polling stations namely Kasaba and Luangwa, assistant presiding officer for Kasaba polling station Lean Galapa described voter turnout as impressive.

She said that by 09:00 hours over 150 people had cast their votes of the 798 registered voters.

Ms Galapa said despite the bad weather people had continued to troop to the polling station to vote.

And the voting process in most parts of the country has been reported to be peaceful so far.

The eleven presidential candidates taking part in the presidential election are MMD’s Nevers Mumba, Green Party’s Peter Sinkamba, Heritage party President Godfrey Miyanda,Fourth Revolution party President Erick Chanda,UNIP’s Tilyenji Kaunda and NAREP’s Elias Chipimo Junior.

Others are PF’s Edgar Lungu, UPND’s Hakainde Hichilema,FDD’s Edith Nawakwi, Forum for Democratic Alternatives President Ludwig Sondashi and Christian Democratic party candidate Dan Pule.