The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has transported ballot papers meant for the postponed Livingstone parliamentary by-elections to Lusaka for safe keeping.
The boxes containing the ballot papers were airlifted to Lusaka aboard a Zambia Air Force (ZAF) plane on Thursday evening.
This decision to keep the ballot papers in Lusaka arose after stakeholders raised concerns that there was a possibility to temper with the ballots.
The ECZ spokesperson Chris Akufuna confirmed the development. Livingstone Constituency returning officer Elister Hazinji also confirmed from Livingstone in a telephone interview.
“Following the meeting we had with various stakeholders, we had concerns about the safety and proper keeping of ballot papers before the postponed voting day on March 14, 2013. We consulted ECZ and they advised us to fly the ballot papers to Lusaka. This is why we have decided to invite all the stakeholders to come and observe transportation from the Civic Centre to the airport and then fly to Lusaka,” she said.
Ms Hazinji said the ballot papers had been taken ECZ offices in Lusaka after stakeholders participating in the election raised safety concerns.
“Representatives of all the political parties, the police, civil society representatives, ECZ official and the media witnessed the transportation of 31 ballot boxes on yesterday afternoon. The boxes were moved from the Livingstone Civic Centre to Harry Mwaanga Nkumbula International Airport and were then flown to Lusaka on a ZAF aircraft,” she said.
She said the plane carrying the ballot papers left Livingstne at 17:30 hours and arrived at Lusaka’s City Airport at 19:10 hours.
“Even in Lusaka, the ballot papers were expected to be received by political parties and other stakeholders,” she said.
The Livingstone parliamentary by-election was postponement from February 28, 2013 to March 14, 2013 because of violence being perpetrated by some political campaigning ahead of the polling day.
The violence led to the death of one Patrotic Front (PF) official who was lynched in unexplained circumstances.
Many United Party for National Development (UPND) members including Garry Nkombo, the Member of Parliament for Mazabuka central were arrested and charged for murder, which is a non bailable offence.
Other UPND members including party president Hakainde Hichilema were arrested and slapped with various offences including the charge of proposing violence.
The UPND president Hakainde Hichilema had appeared in court and denied the charges slapped on him while Garry Nkombo and other members were expected to appear in court to take plea.
The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has asked the ECZ to sensitise political parties and members of the public on both the postponing of the Livingstone by-election and the banning of campaigns ahead of the same event.
SACCORD Information Officer Obby Chibuluma said the ECZ had the responsibility to tell the people why the electoral body had opted to postpone the by-election and the banning of political party public rallies because it was through such meetings that candidates were able to engage the electorate.
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