— Kaputa district records low turnout in voter card replacement

Seven hundred and six eligible voters have replaced their voters’ cards in Kaputa district in the just ended voter replacement exercise that closed on Saturday.

Kaputa District Electoral Officer, Patson Kapoba confirmed this in an interview with ZANIS in Kaputa district today.

 

Mr. Kapoba said the district had recorded a low turnout especially in the outskirts mainly because of distances.

Kaputa central area had the highest number with about 490 people replacing their cards while the other three centers each recorded less than 90 voters, he said.

He explained that Nkosha station recorded 68 people, Kasepa had 62 people and Katai registered 86 people.

 

He attributed the low figures in the outskirts to distance saying some people were forced to travel over 60 kilometers to the nearest registration centre.

 

Mr. Kapoba, who is also Kaputa District Council Secretary, has meanwhile described as peaceful the replacement exercise saying there was only one incidence where a person was apprehended for trying  to get a voters card when he did not register before the 2011 election.

 

About 200 people to work as presiding officers, assistant presiding officers, ushers and poling staffs to help in the running of the presidential election.

According to a list that was released  in selected places the council has appointed 37 presiding officers, 10 assistant presiding officers, 140 polling assistants and 10 ushers for the exercise.

Meanwhile some youths that applied but were left out have complained to the council over the criterion that was used to select the names.

 

The youths who went to the Council Secretary complained that they did not understand how they were left out when they have grade 12 results and could have been picked to help them raise money for college.

 

But Mr. Kapoba  explained that the council followed all the criteria but was limited by the number that
was required.

The country will on January 20th 2015 hold a Presidential election following the death of Zambia’s fifth President, Michael Sata who died in London in October last year.