Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has affirmed its readiness to conduct tomorrow’s presidential election in which the country’s sixth president will be elected.
The Commission is also assuring the nation and electoral stakeholders that adequate measures have been put in place to ensure that the presidential election is held in a transparent and secure environment.
Chairperson Irene Mambilima says her commission is thus ready to receive the results of the poll which she says are expected to be received and announced expeditiously in line with stakeholders.
Speaking this afternoon during the official launch of the 2015 Presidential Election Results Center hosted at Lusaka’s Mulungushi International Conference Center, Justice Mambilima has disclosed that staff an
d election materials have already been deployed to the various districts and that by this evening her commission will be doing the final touches.
Justice Mambilima, who was flanked by the presidential election returning officer and Acting Chief Justice Lome Chibesakunda, states that her commission will receive the election results both electronically from collation centers in the constituencies and manually from the districts to its headquarters and the Election Results Center that is being hosted at Mulungushi International Conference Center.
Justice Mambilima is further assuring the nation that all results will be verified after which they will be publicly displayed in the center and aired as they are received from the collation centers throughout the country.
She has also disclosed that tomorrow Tuesday the 20th of January which is the polling day of the presidential election, her commission will conduct three media briefings at 10:00hrs, 15:30hrs and at 20:00hrs.
The ECZ chairperson says these media briefing are meant to address any issues and concerns that may arise during the poll adding that her commission will additionally be available to address and communicate any matters of concern throughout the period as and when need arises.
She says her commission will to this effect ensure that there is adequate flow of information to all stakeholders through the help desks that will be set up at the Presidential Election Results Center and at the commission’s headquarters to address issues of concern and respond to questions that may arise on the poll day until the end of the process.
And Justice Mambilima has also appealed to all political parties taking part in tomorrow’s presidential election to observe the end of the campaign period which is 18:00hrs today the 19th of January.
She is also appealing to political parties and aspiring candidates to advise their supporters and political party cadres to conduct themselves responsibly during the polls tomorrow regardless of the outcome of the election.
Justice Mambilima states that all political players must remain calm and peaceful during and after the election as her commission carries out its mandate.
She has also cautioned the media to desist from speculating on the election results in order to avoid conflicts and adverse consequences which can negatively affect the nation.