Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
Cris Akufuna
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has clarified that yesterday’s dispatch of ballot papers for the August elections 11th was within its deployment schedule.
The ECZ explains that it is in this same schedule which commences on the 6th August, 2016 that it also planned to deploy poll staff and material using the Zambia Air Force (ZAF) to 117 polling stations.
Spokesperson Cris Akufuna says to this effect 7 trucks ferrying ballot papers and non security election materials were dispatched at 06:00hrs yesterday to 29 districts in 4 provinces.
He has named Luapula, Muchinga, North-Western and Western as the 4 provinces whose districts have since started receiving the dispatched ballot papers and non- security election materials.
Mr. Akufuna says ECZ regrets that it did not adequately communicate the urgency of making these dispatch to stakeholders and therefore apologies for the lapse in communication.
He states that the commission is however assuring the nation and all stakeholders that political party representatives in the 29 districts will witness the delivery of the ballot papers and election materials.
Mr. Akufuna notes that it is these political party representatives that will also conduct verification exercise in their respective districts.
He says the airlifting of poll staff and security materials to polling stations that not accessible by road is expected to be completed by 10th of August while the delivery of ballot papers and election materials to all districts is expected to be completed by the 8th of August.
Mr. Akufuna was speaking at a media briefing held in Lusaka.