UNIP questions ECZ’s Dubai decision

IT will be disastrous for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to stop sponsoring political party representatives to observe printing of ballot papers for the future elections in Zambia, the United National Independence Party (UNIP) in Southern Province has said.

Provincial chairman and Member of the Central Committee Captain Robert Mukengami said his party was not in support of ECZ’s decision as it had potential to cause anarchy in the country.

He told the Daily Nation in an interview in Livingstone that UNIP did not understand why the ECZ had chosen to do away with stakeholders monitoring ballot printing.

“As UNIP we are yet to understand this decision as it has never happened where ECZ wants to do things away from the usual norm of carrying stakeholders to observe the printing of ballot papers.

“Let the Commission call for a meeting to meet with the stakeholders to discuss what can be done so that at least the commission can meet the requirements half way and stakeholders can also meet half of the costs,” lamented Captain Mukengami.

ECZ must address stakeholders so it could hear their views on the matter, he added.

“The commission cannot go alone they need to go with the stakeholders to remove suspicions by stakeholders.

“I feel as a party, this is a very serious recipe for disaster, it has never happened before and it has the potential to cause anarchy in the country,” stated Captain Mukengami.