. Mambilima

By DELPHINE ZULU –
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said the January 20, 2015 election results will be delivered physically from polling stations to all the 150 constituency centres.
The respective constituency results would then be transmitted electronically to the Commission’s headquarters and finally to Mulungushi International Conference Centre which will be the National Results Centre.
ECZ chairperson Irene Mambilima said political parties would be given copies of the results as they would be announced both at the polling stations and at the constituency centres while the final results would be declared by the Chief Justice.
“Note that the Commission has continued with its pilot on the electronic transmission of results from polling stations but this will not be used in this presidential election. Results from the polling stations will be physically delivered,” she said.
So far 11 political parties have confirmed their participation in the election, forcing the Commission to extend the nomination period for two more days to accommodate all the aspiring candidates.
Ms Justice Mambilima said the nomination days had been set for December 17-21 this year.
She said the Commission would not accept anyone who might want to contest as an independent candidate because the law did not allow for independent candidates that failed to produce sponsorship letters from a political party.
“In accordance with the law, there are no independent candidates in a presidential election. All candidates have to be members of or sponsored by a political party,” Ms Justice Mambilima said.
The ECZ chairperson reiterated that there would be no extension to the nomination timetable on account of any political party not being ready due to time.
Justice Mambilima advised all political parties to conduct themselves responsibly and peacefully and report any electoral malpractices to the police, Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) and other law-enforcement agencies.
The ECZ would also be alert to handle any matters of conflict that may arise in the run-up to the election period through its Conflict Management Committee that was established at national and district levels.
“May I reiterate that as political parties you should endeavour to put your organisations in order and assist the Commission in ensuring that the nomination process is conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner,” she said.
Judge Mambilima assured the nation that the Commission was confident that it would deliver a successful presidential election as it had so far concluded training of various aspects and had delivered to all districts non-security materials.
The political parties that confirmed participation included Forum for Democratic Alternatives, National Restoration Party, Fourth Revolutionary Party and United Party for National Development.
Others are United Poor People’s, Peoples Redemption Party and Movement for Multiparty Democracy which has adopted Rupiah Banda while the Patriotic Front would notify them on what date and time it would file for nomination.