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-Kapiri Mposhi District Electoral Officer, Hamwenda Mpande has assured political parties and other stakeholders participating in a parliamentary by-elections tomorrow of a credible elections.
Mr. Mpande explained that the issue surrounding the 3, 664 extra ballot papers are within
the electoral provision and should not be politicized.
He said this during today the electoral stakeholders’ consultative meeting with all political parties’ representatives, the media, election observers and monitors in Kapiri Mposhi district ahead of the polls tomorrow.
Mr. Mpande further explained that it was a standard practice for the ECZ to provide extra ballot papers which are accounted for after an election.
He reiterated that the concerns that were highlighted after discovering that a storeroom where ballot papers were was left unmanned were addressed in a successful verification exercise that was witnessed by all electoral stakeholders.
Mr. Mpande, who is also Kapiri Mposhi District Council Secretary, said the verification exercise indicated that ballot papers were not tempered with and were intact.
He has since urged police officers and other electoral stakeholders to remain vigilant and curb any electoral malpractices so that the outcome of the election results will not be disputed and will show the true reflection of the electorates.
And Kapiri Mposhi parliamentary by-elections returning officer, Jimmy Musweu has implored electoral stakeholders to strictly observe the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)’s electoral code of conduct.
Mr. Musweu urged electoral stakeholders to assist the commission in delivering a credible election.
He further appealed to electoral stakeholders to resist the temptation of interfering in the electoral process as their role was to ensure that polls were held within the confines of the electoral law.
He furthermore appealed to media institutions that have been accredited to cover the elections to play their rightful roles of informing the nation about the true reflection of what will be obtaining on the ground.
Mr. Musweu observed that failure by electoral stakeholders to operate within the electoral law has the potential of heightening political tension in the district.
The ruling Patriotic Front (PF), United Party for National Development (UPND) and United National Independence Party (UNIP), election observers and monitors attended the meeting.
The PF is fielding Eddie Musonde, UPND’s candidate is immediate past MP, Lawrence Zimba while UNIP is fielding Francis Mwape.
The Kapiri Mposhi by-election was necessitated by the nullification of then MMD MP,
Lawrence Zimba’s seat by the court after a successful petition of his election.
