The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said ballot papers for the three November 24 Parliamentary by-elections will be printed by the traditional printers, Universal Printing Group (UPG) in Durban, South Africa. ECZ public relations manager Cris Akufuna said officials from the commission would soon leave for South Africa in readiness for the printing. Mr Akufuna said in Chongwe yesterday that the costing for the whole exercise would soon be consolidated now that nomination papers had been filed.
President Michael Sata recently said that this would be the last time Zambia would print ballot papers outside the country, as the task would be undertaken by Government Printers after it has been fully equipped. The by-elections are slated for Chongwe, Magoye and Nakonde constituencies.
Meanwhile, ECZ and the police have appealed to political parties participating in the Chongwe by-election to educate their members on the need to conduct peaceful campaigns to avoid the violence which characterised the previous polls in September this year. Speaking during a stakeholders briefing at Chongwe District Council yesterday, ECZ deputy director for voter education Jocelyn Mubita and Chongwe police officer -in- charge, Alex Lubinda urged the parties to exercise restraint during the campaigns.
And Mr Lubinda attributed the violence experienced during campaigns to schemes by some political parties to mobilise supporters from other towns. District electoral officer Eddie Mumba urged the political parties to abide by the electoral code of conduct in order to avoid a repeat of what happened in September when MMD cadres allegedly beat up Patriotic Front (PF) members.
Full Article: allAfrica.com: Zambia: UPG to Print Ballot Papers for Three Upcoming By-Elections.
