ECZ to go ahead, print ballot papers in Dubai

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it will go ahead and engage Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing Ltd to print ballot papers for the August 11^th General Election despite the objection from stakeholders.

Speaking during the electoral stakeholders meeting in Lusaka today, ECZ Chairperson Justice Esau Chulu says the commission as per mandate will sponsor political party agents to go to Dubai and witness the printing, packaging and dispatch of the ballot papers.

Justice Chulu says it is unfortunate that the ECZ is criticized by stakeholder for awarding the tender for the printing of ballot papers in accordance with Public Procurement Act and the accompanying regulations and rules.

And Justice Chulu has disclosed that the commission spent over K16 million on the extension of the voter verification exercise from 21^st to 25^th May, 2015.

And the Commission has maintained that no cell phones will be allowed in the polling stations.

Justice Chulu, however, states that polling agents will be permitted to use cell phones for the transmission of results at the end of the counting.

Meanwhile Journalists were asked to leave immediately after the ECZ Chairperson read out his statement as the stakeholders meeting went into a closed door session.