By HOPE BWALYA –

THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has commenced a voter education training programme for persons living with disabilities.
ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna said the training was meant to enable people living with disabilities to participate in the 2016 general elections and the referendum.
Mr Akufuna said the Commission was engaging people with disabilities to come up with a simplified version of the referendum in which it would be possible for them to vote.
Mr Akufuna was speaking in an interview in Lusaka yesterday.
“We are engaging persons living with disabilities, the voter education started on Monday. Already, the voter education handbook has been developed into braille but we are still in the process of developing the referendum into braille as well,” he said.
Mr Akufuna said the Commission had commenced a voter education programme for trainers that would culminate into the training of people living with disabilities.
Mr Akufuna said the Commission had already developed posters, flyers and handbooks for the people living with disabilities.
Goodwill Ambassador for Persons Living with Disabilities Elijah Ngwale thanked the Commission for the training programme as it would help them vote wisely.
Professor Ngwale said it would be important if the training would be taken to all parts of the country so that more people living with disabilities can be informed.
He also urged the media to continue playing their role in educating the public on the referendum.