ECZ suspends announcement of election results

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has suspended the announcing of the 2015 presidential election results at the national presidential election results centre.

 

ECZ Chairperson Irene Mambilima said the announcing of the presidential election results will commence tomorrow Thursday 22^nd January 2015 at 10 hours.

 

Justice Mambilima explained that the decision to suspend the announcing of results was to enable the completion of voting in the remaining six districts which was delayed due to floods.

 

She stated that continuing to announce the election results when voting in the flood affected polling stations is still underway will be influence the decisions of voters in those areas.

 

The ECZ Chairperson said this in Lusaka today during the 2105 presidential elections result update today.

 

And Justice Mambilima has described the delay in commencing voting in the affected areas as unprecedented and beyond the ECZ’s mandate.

 

Justice Mambilima however said it was by law that all registers voters in the country are accorded the twelve hours voting time.

 

She has since appealed to all political parties and all citizens not to speculate the ongoing election results and to desist from premature celebrations which may cause anarchy in the country.

 

She stated that the ECZ was the only mandated body which can give and ascertain the election winner once all the votes have been verified.

 

Meanwhile, the United Nations has welcomed the move by the ECZ to postpone the announcement of the 2015 presidential elections results.

 

UN Country Coordinator Janet Rogan told ZANIS in an interview in Lusaka today that the adjustments being made by the ECZ in the 2015 presidential election results are of mutual benefit to all political parties.

 

Ms. Rogan has since called on the people of Zambia to support the commission as it carries out its core mandate and to exercise patience as the commission prepares to announce the winner.