NRPUP IS DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED WITH ECZ FOR FAILING TO DISCLOSE FULL INFORMATION AND FOLLOW STANDARD PROCEDURES ON THE MOVEMENT, ARRIVAL AND STORAGE OF BALLOT PAPERS WITH STAKEHOLDERS As National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), we are deeply shocked, disturbed and disappointed that our Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is managing the movement […]

NRPUP IS DISAPPOINTED AND SHOCKED WITH ECZ FOR FAILING TO DISCLOSE FULL INFORMATION AND FOLLOW STANDARD PROCEDURES ON THE MOVEMENT, ARRIVAL AND STORAGE OF BALLOT PAPERS WITH STAKEHOLDERS

As National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), we are deeply shocked, disturbed and disappointed that our Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is managing the movement and handling of ballot papers from Dubai to Zambia’s Lusaka International Airport with suspicious secrecy by blacking us out as opposition stakeholders from knowing crucial information at every stage.

As we anticipate to receive the first consignment of ballot papers today, here are our concerns that ECZ has so far failed to address:

1. There has never been any Stakeholders Meeting to update and familiarize all political parties and other actors on the scope, procedures and mandate of the local ballot verification teams. Hence, everyone including NRPUP is in the dark so far apart from ECZ.

2. ECZ has stubbornly failed to provide any meaningful Advance Information to us as stakeholders such as the Parking List.

Therefore, as stakeholders, we are ignorantly lost of what type of ballot papers we are receiving today, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday as flights arrive in Lusaka. Few hours before we receive the first consignment of ballot papers,  ECZ has not informed us anything about the actual cargo manifest for tomorrow or Monday.

3. Up to now, ECZ has omitted to disclose the full schedule of the ballot papers and their categories coming from Dubai each day from today Sunday to Friday. In like manner, the commission has not disclosed to us as stakeholders on the vessel that will be carrying the ballot papers as well as the route. 

4. Are the ballot papers coming on a commercial flight or a chartered private plane? Are these planes coming directly into Lusaka from Dubai or are they stoping to refueling somewhere?  In like manner, ECZ is brutally mute on physical inspection of the ballot boxes at the airport itself upon arrival each day. Why is this component so secretive or muted this year?

5. This year, ECZ has not accorded us as stakeholders any opportunity to physically inspect the storage warehouses both at the airport itself and in Silverest. As NRPUP, we have no idea of how the warehouses look like. Where is ECZ going to keep all the ballot papers exactly and for how long?

6. Additionally, we have not yet agreed with ECZ on the extra security measures to the warehouses where the ballot papers will be kept. As NRPUP, this is one aspect we treasure and treat very crucial. Ironically, ECZ has not informed us as stakeholders the name of the cargo handler warehouse at the airport. How long will the ballot papers be kept at the airport, where and by who?

7. Lastly, ECZ has strangely not availed us with any information on the number of vehicles that will receive and pick the ballot papers from the airport, when and time, the number plates of the vehicles and full names of the drivers who shall be carrying these ballot boxes. As NRPUP, we demand all such critical information from ECZ as this informs our broad oversight process.

On behalf of President Brian Mundubile, Running Mate Makebi Zulu,  NRPUP and the Tonse Pamodzi family, we demand full disclosure, strict adherence to standard procedures and the traditional accountability from ECZ in the movement, handling, storage and safety of ballot papers from tomorrow at the airport until the actual day of voting on 13th August next month.

ECZ must be reminded that, the integrity and credibility of the chain of custody in ballot paper handling and movement cannot be separated from the principle and practice of a credible and transparent election. We demand immediate answers and correct steps to be strictly respected and enforced at all levels.

Issued by

Dr. Chris ZUMANI Zimba
NRPUP Chief Presidential Advisor and Tonse Alliance Secretary General