ECZ revise nomination fees

ECZ Public Relations Manager Cris Akufuna

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has revised the nomination fees for Presidential and Parliamentary aspiring candidates for the August 11^th General Elections.

The ECZ has also for the second time revised the nomination fees for aspiring Mayors, Council Chairpersons for municipalities and Councillors.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna tells QFM News in a statement that the revision comes as a result of an appeal from various stakeholders.

Mr. Akufuna clarifies that the upward adjustment of the fees announced on the 4^th February, 2016 was based on the fact that the commission sponsors political party agents to observe the printing of ballot papers for entire period which ranges between 20 to 30 days.

He says another reason why the fees were upward adjusted was the fact that the commission gives a copy of Voter Register to every presidential candidate free of charge which costs K176, 000 to print a copy.

Mr. Akufuna says stakeholders felt that the revision was too high compared to the previous nomination fee levels and thus called on the commission to revisit them at various for a.

He explains that the commission listened to the concerns of stakeholders and on 10^th May, 2016 revised nomination fees for aspiring Mayor/Council Chairperson and Councillor.

The ECZ Public Relations Manager discloses that the new nomination fees for Presidential candidates are at K60, 000 from K75, 000, Parliamentary at K7, 500, Mayor K5, 000, Council Chairperson K2, 000, Councillor in a City K750 and Councillor for District K400.

He says the commission will make arrangements to refund the difference to political parties that have paid the nomination fees in full.