By Jonathan Mbiriyamveka
The Zimbabwe Election Support Network comprising non-governmental organisations formed in 2000 to co-ordinate activities related to the promotion of democratic processes, particularly free and fair elections, has commended the Electoral Commission of Zambia for allowing prisoner to cast their ballot.
In its preliminary statement on the recently held Zambian General Elections, ZESN said the ECZ staff were professional in their conduct however they were unprepared for the huge turnout.
“ZESN commends the ECZ for extending the right to vote to prisoners, ZESN was able to observe polling at both the male and female sections of the Lusaka Central Correctional Facility.
“The ECZ ensured that party agents at the respective polling stations had copies of the voter’s r0ll thus enhancing the transparency of the polling process.
“However the ECZ appeared not fully prepared for the huge turnout, with voting at some polling stations continuing well into the night and in some instances counting only commencing the following day. This was observed at Woodlands B primary school in Lusaka,” ZESN said
“Nevertheless the ECZ polling official remained professional and facilitated voting by the multitudes that turned up to cast their vote even in stances where some polling official had to work for over 15 hours.
“While the ECZ developed detailed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Against Covid-19, its provisions were not systematically adhered to as many voters were not observing social distancing, sanitising or washing of hands with soap and running water which was provided for at every polling station.
“Voters’ ability to identify their correct polling stations could have improved with adequate signage or posting of voters names outside their polling stations, as was witnessed at some polling stations in Chawama Constituency.
“Despite the devastating COVID-19 Pandemic ravaging the world, Zambia, like Malawi in the year 2020, successfully conducted general elections which ushered in a new dispensation in Zambia. We wish to commend the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), which working with the Health Ministry, developed a health protocol tailor-made for the general elections, ensuring that ECZ fulfilled its constitutional obligations of organizing regular, timely general elections.”
The elections in Zambia as witnessed in other parts of the world, ZESN said, were yet again proof that it was possible to conduct elections in the middle of a serious pandemic.
“Democracy, not the COVID-19 must have a final say. The Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) can draw lessons from Zambia on how to conduct elections during a pandemic, and prepare to conduct overdue by-elections, the delimitation exercise and the 2023 general elections.
“ZESN applauds the outgoing President of Zambia Edgar Chagwa Lungu for pledging a smooth transfer of power to the incoming government just hours after the announcement of the winning candidate, a rare feet on the African continent. Democracy in Africa will be richer if all outgoing leaders emulate the Zambian example,” ZESN said.
Meanwhile ZESN has congratulated the United Party for National Development [UPND] and its President and President-elect of Zambia Mr. Hakainde Hichilema for winning the elections.
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