ECZ Restores UPND Candidate to Lumezi Ballot Papers

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says that the name of UPND candidate Lufeyo Ngoma has been restored to ballot papers ahead of Thursday’s by-election in Lumezi, Eastern Province.

On Tuesday, the ECZ announced that – due to a printing error – the last name of UPND parliamentary candidate Lufeyo Ngoma had been omitted from the ballot papers. Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the commission was treating the matter with the utmost seriousness and would resolve the issue “in line with electoral laws and procedures”.

On Wednesday, Mr Kasaro said the matter had been resolved after the commission ordered a reprint of the ballot papers. The new papers are scheduled to arrive at Kenneth Kaunda Airport from the UAE at 14:30.

“In view of the limited time, the ballot papers will immediately be transported to Lumezi District, where they will be received and verified by all participating political parties/candidates and other stakeholders before being distributed to the respective polling stations,” Mr Kasaro said in a statement.

Mr Ngomba successfully filed his nomination to contest the Lumezi by-elections on behalf of the UPND on 27 May.

A by-election was called in the seat after independent MP Munir Zulu was sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for criminal libel.