By DELPHINE ZULU –

VARIOUS political stakeholders have hailed the launch the of the voter registration card exercise by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
The Patriotic Front (PF) has since urged citizens to take advantage of the countrywide voter registration launch to register as voters in readiness for the 2016 general elections.
Chairperson for elections Emmanuel Mpakata, who welcomed the launch by the ECZ, also advised PF members without voter’s cards to turn up in masses and register or have their cards replaced if lost or misplaced.
Mr Mpakata said in an interview yesterday that all party structures should ensure that everyone had a voter’s card because that was the only way to be sure of victory in next year’s elections.
“The launch is welcome and timely. It is not in the rainy season, so no one should have an excuse unless one is just used to complaining. As PF my word to my fellow members is to ensure that everyone registers. I encourage members to turn in masses and register,” Mr Mpakata said.
United Party for National Development (UPND) deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo said while his party welcomed the launch, there was need for the ECZ to be impartial in the manner it conducted the registration.
“We salute ECZ for launching the voter registration exercise. It is in the right direction but ECZ must go a step further and monitor the activities to avoid disadvantaging others on partisan lines,” Mr Lifwekelo said.
He said in a separate interview that the ECZ should ensure that challenges such as unnecessary breakdown of equipment, network disruptions and manpower shortages were addressed to guarantee smooth running of the exercise.
The Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) executive director Boniface Cheembe advised ECZ to be transparent in the manner the voter registration exercise was going to be conducted.
Mr Cheembe said in an interview that the targeted number was reasonable and hoped it would be achieved after the exercise was completed.
“I hope this launch will allow eligible voters to register so that they don’t place the blame on anyone, especially ECZ. What is vital is to demand for transparency and, should need arise, to consult stakeholders. We are ready to be engaged.