ECZ sets January 11, 15 as dates for verification of ballot papers

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has set January 11^th to 15^th, 2015 as dates for verifying ballot papers for the January 20, 2015 presidential election.

The ballot papers, which were printed by Ren-Form in Johannesburg South Africa, will arrive in Zambia at 14:45 hours on January 9^th, 2015.

ECZ Public Relations Manager Crispin Akufuna told ZANIS in a statement in Lusaka that the verification of the ballot papers will be done at the Commission’s Silverest Warehouse during the stated period between 08:30 hours and 17:00 hours.

Mr. Akufuna said political parties which will take part in the election have since been asked to send two representatives each for the verification process.

“The two representatives are advised to apply for accreditation on Friday, 9^th January, 2015 at the Commission for the purpose of the verification of the ballot papers,” he said.

He has stressed that only accredited people will be allowed to witness the verification exercise.

Eleven candidates are contesting the presidential election which fell vacant after the death of President Michael Sata in October last year.

 

The political parties participating in the presidential election are the United National Independence Party (UNIP), the Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), the United Party for National Development (UPND), Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD), ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and the National Restoration Party (NAREP).

 

Others are the Heritage Party (HP), Fourth Revolution, Forum for Democratic Alternatives (FDA), Christian Democratic Party CDP) and Green Party.