CCMG tips govt on demarcation of boundaries by ECZ

CCMG Chairperson Suzanne Matale

CCMG Chairperson Suzanne Matale

The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) says government working closely with Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) must ensure that disputes arising from the demarcation of boundaries by the ECZ are addressed timely to avoid endangering the lives of registration officials or derailing the registration process.

CCMG Chairperson Suzanne Matale says efforts should be made towards educating those in positions of authority that there is a difference between administrative boundaries and electoral boundaries citing that when demarcating boundaries in future ECZ should take note of administrative boundaries as well as common interest among the people in each constituency.

The CCMG has also urged the department for National Registration to improve on the issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) to citizens who need them for Voter Registration across the country adding that they have noted instances in which some people have been trying to acquire the NRCs but failing either due to the low rate of issuance or other reasons that were being advanced by officials.

Ms. Matale says while they appreciate publicity efforts being made, they urge ECZ, Political Parties and civil society involved in the process to employ mobilization strategies that will increase the turnout of eligible citizens to register.

They have also urged the Church to equally be more involved in mobilizing citizens to register as voters as the Church has a comparative advantage in that millions of Zambians attend Church services on a weekly basis.

They have further urged the media to also improve on its coverage of the Voter Registration process so that more citizens get correct information in order for them to register and have called on all Zambians eligible to register to ensure that they do so while the process is still open including at council offices which will continue until 31st March 2016.

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