The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is to begin printing ballot papers for next month’s presidential by-election, says Priscilla Isaac, director of elections at the electoral body. She says nine presidential candidates have filed nomination papers with the electoral body to represent their parties in the January 20 poll. The ECZ says Tuesday is the deadline for filing the nomination. Isaac said three presidential aspirants have pulled out of the January vote. The constitution mandates the ECZ to organize fresh presidential by-election within 90 days following the death of a sitting head of state. This comes after the death of President Michael Sata in October.
Isaac said the ECZ will be ready to administer the vote. “We are on course with our preparations. As soon as we finish with the filing of the nominations on Tuesday, then we will proceed to prepare with the printing of the ballot papers, which will be done in South Africa with a company called Ren-Form cc. We’ve used them to print ballot papers for by-elections and also in terms of the other election materials we need booths and so forth,” said Isaac.
Full Article: Zambia Preparing for Presidential By-election.