Peaceful mood at Lusaka’s St Patrick’s Secondary School, as voting gets underway

Voting at St Patrick’s Secondary School in Lusaka got off to a calm and orderly start this morning, with citizens describing the mood as peaceful and the queues as moving steadily. Mwiya Namakando, one of the early voters at the polling station, said he arrived before 06:00 hours…

Voting at St Patrick’s Secondary School in Lusaka got off to a calm and orderly start this morning, with citizens describing the mood as peaceful and the queues as moving steadily.

Mwiya Namakando, one of the early voters at the polling station, said he arrived before 06:00 hours to ensure he exercised his constitutional right to choose government through the ballot.

Mr Namakando noted that from the time he arrived, there had been no incidents of violence or disruption.

“From the time I came here the mood has been very peaceful, there is no violence of any kind and the queues are moving peacefully and everyone is able to vote peacefully,” he said.

He described the environment at the school as conducive, with voters patiently waiting their turn to cast their ballots.

Mr Namakando appealed to eligible voters who have not yet turned out to participate in the elections.

“I encourage those that are not yet decided to be able to vote. They should not abstain from exercising their responsibility as citizens,” he said.

Ocient Muchindu, a Kabwata resident, said that despite the long queue, the environment remained calm.

St Patrick’s Secondary School has 2 streams which have over three thousand registered voters.

Most Polling Stations at the school opened at 06:00 hours.