For once, Zambia’s political parties are agreeing on something. Representatives from close to ten political parties, together with civil society and people representing persons with disabilities, went all the way to Dubai to watch how the ballot papers for the August 13 election are being printed, and what they are seeing is being described as transparent, inclusive and credible.
Government contracted a Dubai-based company called Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing to print the ballots for all 13,529 polling stations across the country, covering 8.7 million registered voters. Printing started on June 30 and should be finished within days, with packing and sending the ballots back to Zambia expected before the end of the month.
Parties that sent people to observe include UPND, Citizens First, Leadership Movement, National Reconciliation Party for Unity dXand Prosperity, and several others, and even independent presidential candidate Given Katuta had someone there. UPND’s Bob Sakahilu said the process is very credible and consultative, while Professor Nkandu Luo from Zambia Resolute Party simply said things have been good so far.
ECZ commissioner Zevyanji Sinkala gave an update, saying 9.1 million presidential ballot papers and more than 13,000 braille jackets have already been printed. Ballot papers for 84 out of 226 constituencies are already done, mayoral ballots are complete for 77 out of 116 districts, and packing has already started for 15 constituencies.
There is also good news for voters who are visually impaired. The Zambia Library Cultural and Skills Centre for the Visually Impaired is producing 6,250 braille voter education materials, and the centre’s director Fredrick Lungu says this will be finished within six days.
With so much talk this campaign season about rigging and manipulation, it is notable that parties from different sides are all coming back from Dubai saying the same thing: so far, the printing process is being handled well.
