UPND Join Ballot Monitoring Exercise

The United Party for National Development (UPND) is monitoring the printing of ballot papers for the August 12thelections. The printing is taking place in Dubai and is being carried out by Al Ghurair Publishing and Printing Company. It includes both the parliamentary and local government ballot papers, as well as the ballots for the presidential candidates. The Patriotic Front (PF) Deputy National Chairperson Davis Chama is also in attendance. 

In the past it has been usual practice for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to sponsor stakeholder observation of the printing of ballots to promote transparency and trust in the process. However, last year the ECZ announced that it would not be doing so ahead of the 2021 polls, attracting heavy criticism. 

The ECZ defended the move on the basis of the difficult fiscal environment. However, the decision was not well received by several civil society and opposition members. Among those to express concern were the Governance Election Advocacy Research Services Initiative Zambia (GEARS), which cautioned that the decision was unwise and could fuel suspicion regarding the exercise. 

“Elections are a very delicate thing because that is what brings leaders and you cannot cut funding for people who want to see what is happening in the process,” GEARS Chief Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi stated. 

At the time Chipenzi stressed that the process must be inclusive and that by printing the ballots in Dubai at great cost (US$3 million) but refusing to cover the relatively small amount required for observer participation the move was effectively banning some groups.  

Printing, packaging and airlifting of the ballots is expected to conclude by the end of the month.