ECZ Must Extend Registration Period of Voters if 2021 Poll is to Meet the Minimum Threshold of a Basic Credible Election

PRESS STATEMENT – UPND SA

11.12.20

The  Electoral Commission of Zambia must do everything possible to ensure that  all eligible voters in the country  get their National registration cards as well as their voters cards and are all registered to vote if the upcoming 2021 elections are to pass a minimum basic standard of being credible. It is just one  day to go before the official close of the current  registration period but endless lines of people wanting to register are still a common scene   everywhere in all the provinces in the country. People are still standing up in lines up to 12 hours even today to try and get the voters card. The lines are still endless and very long.
ECZ  machines have purportedly been continuously broken down for weeks  in most polling  districts perceived to be opposition strongholds and citizens for weeks have not been able to get registered thereby denying them their basic right.
Our assessment  has revealed that the ECZ staff  in most  places perceived to be opposition  areas  like Western province and Mongu in particular  were  only able to work for a maximum total of 9 days during the whole month long registration period managing to only register a dismal number of people to vote . This is clearly  electoral fraud and malpractice already by ECZ and a recipe  for anarchy in the country and as such we call on the government and  ECZ  to extend the period of registration without fail  till the current  parliament is dissolved. Registration of voters should be a continuous exercise in a civilised society that cherishes democracy.

The right to vote is a human rights issue and ECZ  can not be seen to be in the forefront to disfranchise citizens of their enshrined constitutional right to vote.
We want to retaliate that the ECZ must comply with the African Union Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance and it’s Principles governing elections both of which place emphasis on the credibility of electoral infrastructure, including voters rolls.
ECZ must also abide by the provisions of the Universal  Declaration of Human  Rights , which guarantees the right to vote for all qualifying citizens, among other international instruments.
Therefore, ECZ has no choice but to extend the current  registration period till  parliament is dissolved  in order to ensure all citizens exercise their democratic right to participate in these elections.

ECZ should not disfranchise the citizens of Zambia but instead uphold the rights of citizens.

Oliver Amutike
UPND SA Chapter Chairman
UPND SA Press Office.