US hails ECZ for running professional election

United States Ambassador to Zambia Eric Schultz has strongly commended the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for running a professional, well-organized election free of political violence and with minimal electoral irregularities.

Ambassador Schultz has since encouraged patience until all the votes are counted and results announced by the ECZ.

He says once the electoral process is complete, it is hoped that all candidates will respect the final result.

Ambassador Schultz says Zambia’s reputation as a strong democracy depends on support for the decision of Zambia’s voters.

He states that the candidates need to advise their supporters to remain calm and to honor the ECZ’s announcement of the results.

And European Union Head of Delegation Gilles Hervio has congratulated the Zambian people and the Electoral Commission of Zambia on their conduct during the Presidential By-election on 20th of January, 2015.

Mr Hervio says he EU delegation is very impressed with the patience and discipline of the voters, the organisational arrangement secured by the electoral officials, as well as the professional demeanour of both security agents and party agents present at the polling stations.

Mr Hervio says it is his hope that patience and calm can be maintained, that the announcement of results remains the sole privilege of the ECZ, and that any organisation involved in PVT refrain from bypassing their mandate by publicising their respective estimations of what they believe is the likely outcome of this election, which is still ongoing.