The UPND opposition party has through its lawyer, Mr Garry Nkombo pulled out of the vote verification process.
What this means in terms of deciding the winner of the crucial election was yet to be established at the time of writing.
Delays in delivering the results of the Zambian presidential election caused tempers to flare after partial results were issued late on Saturday morning, as political parties said they were “tired” of not receiving results, or answers to alleged malfeasance.
The race is tight between President Edgar Lungu of the Patriotic Front (PF) ruling party and his main contender Hakainde Hichilema, the head of the UPND opposition. By Saturday evening, after more than 48 hours, only 42 out of 156 constituencies had been announced.
“How valid are these elections if we cannot verify the results? It’s a mandatory provision of the law that this document be facilitated to all the stakeholders,” said opposition UPND lawyer Martha Mushipe during the question session with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) after the vote tallies for eight constituencies were announced.
She was referring to the “Gen 12” form that political party agents were to sign and confirm at the polling station. “If this document is not facilitated, how credible are these elections?” she asked.
The official Gen 12 document is key for political parties to carry out their own observation of the count, using parallel voter tabulation (PVT). A form shortage at Lusaka polling stations meant that some party officials were taking photos of forms with the results, instead of receiving an official copy.
Although various political parties have brought forth a number of grievances since Zambia voted in the general elections on Thursday, the issue of the Gen 12 forms has been brought up repeatedly. The Electoral Commission of Zambia on Saturday reiterated that they were looking into the matter.
The detention of Samuel Chavula is also generating questions from the opposition. Chavula, who had accreditation to get into the heavily-guarded Mulungushi International Conference Centre was found in a verification computer room by police. He was arrested on Friday for allegedly attempting to tamper with the computers that were tallying the results. Local media say Chavula is an employee of PF Deputy Chairperson Kelvin Fube Bwalya.
Chavula remains in police custody and the ECZ did not have an update when asked about the case.
6 Replies to “BREAKING NEWS: Zambia Opposition Pulls Out Of Election Verification Process”
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Zvakatanga naRobert,chionai manje
HH did not pull out. He and the team were only boycotting the briefing by ECZ. They are back at Mulungishi. Lungu wants to bkock the recount of Lusaka urban votes. He has just rushed to Mulungushi to instruct ECZ not recount the Lusaka.
Ichokwadi chaizvo ichocho
Ichokwadi chaizvo ichocho
SADC erred in leting Mugabe off the hook in 2008 ….now every sitting President makes sure he does not “lose” the SADC “free & fair ” elections….withholding results when you know you are losing is the new normal…..
SADC erred in leting Mugabe off the hook in 2008 ….now every sitting President makes sure he does not “lose” the SADC “free & fair ” elections….withholding results when you know you are losing is the new normal…..