The experience of losing a Voter's Card and why the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) must invest in the Finger Print Voting System

She arrived at the Kitwe Civic Center with hope of acquiring a new Voter’s Card even after the exercise closed months ago.
After finding out from relevant authorities, she was advised nothing could be done with her case despite having hope that a letter would be written for her to be recognized as a Registered Voter.

Finger Print Voting Machine

The story of Agness Mulenga of Kitwe left me thinking whether there were no options to allow individuals that had lost their voters cards few days to elections to take part in the elections as the 25 year old looked helplessly.

After receiving the unfortunate news, she removed her glasses looking teary after realizing that she had no chance to take part in the Zambian elections slated for August, 11th 2016.
She wept as I drew closer to get her side of the story, despite her emotional appearance; she opened up explaining her unfortunate fate.
"Our house was gutted last night and my Voter’s Card was among other important documents that I have lost following the unfortunate event, we don't know how the fire started and property has been lost but losing my Voter’s Card is the most painful one. You know these elections are crucial and being denied a chance to vote due to lack of technology hurts a lot" she narrated as tears run down her face.
"You know the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has money, why don't they invest in technological equipment to handle problems like mine"? She questioned as she looked frustrated.

“Life is quiet unfair, I have always wanted to vote, my time came and it’s all lost” she broke down.

Her experience was one of those moments that many people are going through currently yet there is nothing that can be done according to those given the authority. It is still shocking that so many people have no opportunities because they lost their documents to allow them vote under unclear circumstances.

The process of voter registration only comes into effect prior to elections and the system seems more tedious as people are forced to queue for long hours to get their voters cards. In 2015 President Edgar Lungu was quoted as saying, He was discussing with some funders to finance the electronic voting in Zambia.

The current system works in a way that the user has to show his/her 'voter’s card’ where he/she goes to the polling booth to poll his/her 'vote. The process is however time consuming as the person has to check the 'voters card’ with the list he/her has, confirm it as an authorised card and then allow the person to poll his/her 'vote. 

 

Electronic Finer Print Voting Machine

In the Finger print based electronic voting the person at the polling booth will only have to place his/her thumb and the date will be captured the be allowed to vote. If a person is not a registered voter the system will be able to detect then the person will not be allowed to vote.

Referring to Agness’ scenario, her case is no different from what many Zambians are experiencing and it is important that the electoral Commission of Zambia takes time to serious look at this issue and help as many people to take part in the elections as they try to fight Voter Apathy that continues to characterize Zambian elections.

Is Zambia ready to implement the Finger Print Based Electronic Voting Machine? Well that’s a topic for another day, but looking how the voting process has been since multiparty system, the process has been so involving.

This move if you ask me has contributed to an increase in voter apathy as most people have had problems to queue up for longer hours just to cast their votes while it would only take a minute with the Finger Print Based Electronic Voting.

The case of Agness is a reality and many people will be affected in the forthcoming general elections in Zambia, while the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) shall continue to depend on their voter register without knowing how many people still have their voter’s cards after registration.

The Zambian Government must show political will in helping top addressing the pertinent issues as opposed to making rhetoric statements that have not yielded any results due to lack of seriousness.

With such interest and passion from people like Agness, it is important that their efforts are supplemented with improved systems that will make their contribution easier and help in reducing voter apathy.

Who is behind Political Violence, Political Party Leaders, Cadres?

First Republican President Dr Kenneth Kaunda

Since Independence Zambia has held about 12 elections at national level with an exception of the pre-independence election in 1964 that saw Dr Kenneth Kaunda becoming the prime minister, and President when Zambia became independent on 24 October 1964.

Despite Zambia going under the one party state in 1973, elections have been held with no serious reports of political violence, a trade mark that Zambia has attained of being a peaceful.

Dr Kenneth Kaunda led through to 1990 with all elections held under a one party state, Zambia never rose up with violence to get into multi-party, and it was all through a democratic process that saw late President Dr Fredrick Chiluba winning the 1991 General Elections under MMD beating UNIP the only political party that contest the elections at presidential level.

Late Dr Fredrick Chiluba - Second Republican President

However, all this time there were political party cadres but the situation was different as all political parties viewed each other as competitors in the political field and those that lost power accepted defeat.

In 1996, Late President Dr Fredrick Chiluba won his second term under the MMD beating other four political parties that took part in the elections with campaigns prior to elections being peaceful as usual, five years later another elections were held but this time marred with intra party wrangles that saw the split of the MMD and the formation of other political parties such as PF, HP, FDD, ZRP among other getting on the political field.

Late Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa - Third Republican President

It was a tightly contested in 2001, with new comers claiming a good share of votes that saw the MMD getting back to power under Dr Levy Patrick Mwanawasa with a partly 29% beating his closest rival late Anderson Mazoka of the UPND who managed 27% and other nine political parties that took part in the Elections.

With divisions in the MMD prior to the General Elections it was expected that there could be some pockets of violence after the results were announced alas it all went quiet and defeat was accepted. Late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa was re-elected in 2006 with Michael Sata of the Patriotic Front coming second while other political parties merged to form the United Democratic Alliance that come third under its leader Hakainde Hichilema.

The unfortunate happened in 2008 when Zambia lost its leader Dr levy Patrick Mwanawasa but all the same elections were held and Rupiah Banda emerged victorious, the results that Patriotic Front Leader Michael Sata disputed.

Rupiah Banda - Fourth Republican President Rupiah 

With tensions in various parts of the country especially Lusaka and Copperbelt, there were reports of looming violence but thank God Michael Sata stood and told his members not to engage in violence but accept results as they came. 

The Political Party Cadres heeded to the call and the nation was back to its usual peace.

Michael Sata - Fifth Republican President

In 2011, Michael Chilufya Sata of the Patriotic Front emerged victorious unseating the incumbent Rupiah Banda of the MMD.  In 2012 By Elections were held in Mufumbwe constituency at parliamentary level with reports of violence making headlines in most media organisation. 

Reports then were that some political party cadres from Copperbelt alleged to be from the Patriotic Front were ferried to the constituency to cause havoc before elections.

Then MMD leader Dr Nevers Mumba said in the past 15 years he had been in politics, he had never seen such a corrupt and immoral election like the one that happened in Mufumbwe.

However, the situation was contained as police were equal to the task.

At the death of President Michael Sata in 2014, Zambia experienced intra party wrangles with a few pockets of violence reported among the different camps that were formed. However, elections came and they were peaceful usual with losing candidates accepting defeat.

Edgar Chagwa Lungu - Sixth Republican President 

In the 2015 Presidential Elections, Edgar Chagwa Lungu won the elections, pockets of violence were minimal as most political parties were carried away with intra party wrangles.

Zambia head to polls in less than one month, many political parties’ cadres have involved themselves in acts of political violence, due to the rising reports of political violence the Church called for an indaba but all is yielding nothing.

It used to be political parties against each other, now the situation has changed, now its political parties against the Zambia Police Service.

The loss of lives during campaigns is one thing political party cadres must learn from and refrain from acts of violence, Political party leaders Nevers fight, why should political party cadres fight! That’s the question each person should ask themselves.

But who is behind this political violence?

Political Party leaders have been preaching about putting an end to political violence, the mood in the background is a different story, Lusaka and southern Provinces have so far recorded the highest number of political violence.

Political Party Cadres are on the loose to engage themselves in bad vices and the move could lead to voter apathy in the forth coming elections.

Political party leaders needs to stamp Authority and stop violence, there mere statements and condemning the vice is not helping as the vice keeps rising in most parts of the country.

For Now both political party leaders and their cadres have not done enough to stop the vice, Copperbelt Province is a good example at provincial and Kitwe District various initiatives have been held and acts of violence have gone down.

Zambian politicians see violence both as an offensive weapon and as a component of personal security as a necessary part of any political campaign.

With the Electoral Commission of Zambia moving in to suspend campaigns, political parties must learn something and conduct themselves in befitting manner.

The shooting of a female youth by the Zambia Police makes sad reading and must serve as a lesson to political party cadres to refrain from engaging in confrontations with the police, not justifying the action by the Police it’s just not right. Don’t take the law in your hands! One died many were safe with others injured lets learn from our leaders who don’t fight.

Police Acts professionally please!!!!!

President Edgar Lungu

Hakainde Hichilema - UPND Leader

It’s not a secret, violence is between the UPND and the PF, therefore the two must take responsibility and stop the ugly activities before many lives are lost.

Stop violence; speak through the Ballot Box and save lives!!!!!!

Safeguard your Residential Plots, Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe Tells ex-miners as they receive letters of offer from Government

Some Ex-Miners in kitwe

After loosing their jobs in the Mining Industry, life was in a mess especially for those that had acquired loans from different financial institutions.

The quickest response from government was that they would be offered farm land after being re-trenched a move that brought smiles on many of the ex-miners.

Walking away with a partly K 18,000 that was publicized to the dislike of many, life was never the same as most of them had no starting point due to loans acquired.

Various stake holders have raised concerns as to the delays that have taken place from November last year as to when the farm land will be made available to the ex-miners.

Some good news has come through!

Chanda Kabwe - Kitwe District Commissioner

Government has started giving out letters of offer for residential plots to ex-miners in Kitwe and other towns on the Copperbelt.

Kitwe District Commissioner Chanda Kabwe who handed over the letters of offer to the ex-miners said government had yet scored an another achievement by fulfilling its promise.

"The opposition political parties are ashamed because they thought government under the leadership of President Edgar Lungu would not fulfill its promise, but here we are witnessing this exercise"

"The head of state is walking the talk, today you are getting your plots with all the conditions waved with an exception of service charges, its a first of its kind in so many yes" the excited District Commissioner said.

Mr Kabwe however warned the ex-miners not to sale the residential plots but safeguard them jealously and make them a starting point in life.

Some miners could not hide their joy and thanked government for gesture saying it would ease the burden.

"I have been struggling to get a plot from the council for years, now I can say being re-trenched from the mine was a blessing in disguise I now own a plot" one of the ex-miners said.

The district had more good news, saying in the next few weeks government will start giving out farm land to the ex-miners.

"Land is under demarcation in Luswishi farm bloc in Lufwanyama District and sooner than later u will start getting the land the process is almost complete" he revealed

The hope is that the ex-miners will act responsibly with the land given to them in the new Kitwe which is prime land and will avoid the temptation of selling plots.

Over 4,000 Miners last year in November were retrenched from various Mining Houses on the Copperbelt and Government promised that Miners will be given farm land.

Solwezi - Chingola Road Neglected?

Traveling through the Solwezi – Chingola Road now has become a terrible option to those that have used the road recently.

With three major mines in Solwezi and Kalumbila Districts, one still wonders why the road still remains unattended to despite having three contractors on the same project.

Road Pave, China Geo and Buildcon are the three contractors trying out their muscles to make the road more useful than it is now. However it is disappointing to note that 4 years down the line after the project started, the developments taking place on the road are at a snails pace.

What is more shocking is that a journey to Solwezi from Chingola that took a maximum of 2hour 30 minutes now takes a maximum of 5 hours using public transport.

What is shocking is that despite Lucky Mulusa hailing from the Province, he has not taken advantage of his position to help speed up the works like he has done in other districts.

It was under Steven Masumba, Nathaniel Mubukwanu, Dawson Kafwaya and now Danny Chingimbu as provincial Ministers, there is still nothing to write home about.

Despite the claims of the town being the New Copperbelt! There is nothing close to that as the actual Copperbelt that has massively benefited from government’s road projects.

The Mines in the two Districts are the largest Copper Producers in the country but still no one bothers to have the road improved to better standards.

“It is a death trap, driving through the road put me under serious fear as to whether I would be home alive or not, the road is too bumpy” one of the travelers said.

“Its the issue of commitment, the Kitwe-Ndola dual carriage way and Kitwe-Chingola dual carriage way, how long have they taken? You can still see progress within 2 years, but for Solwezi after four years,the only difference is creation of detour roads and drainages and what is that!” He added.

Economic Activities in Solwezi have been delayed due to the slow pace at which the contractors are working on the road.

Politicizing the construction of the Solwezi-Chingola Road will be the worst thing government would be making as the current situation puts the ruling party at a risk of losing votes.

Lucky Mulusa the former Solwezi Central Member of Parliament protested in 2012 by taking a walk from Chingola to Solwezi accompanied by Former Transport and Communications Minister Sarah Sayifwanda due to the poor state of the road.

However, what is shocking is that despite Mulusa hailing from the Province, he has not taken advantage of his position to help speed up the works like he has done in other districts.

Government needs to urgently wake up and sort the Solwezi Chingola Road to maximize economic benefits to the national treasury.

Chipenzi Quits FODEP, to Join Politics?

MacDonald Chipenzi

Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi has announced his departure from the Civil Society Organization he has served for over 8 year.

Chipenzi has stated in his facebook posting that he will cease to be Executive Director in FODEP effective Monday, 15th February, 2016

However, Chipenzi has hinted that he will inform the nation at an appropriate time his next move.

The Outspoken Chipenzi has been linked with a drive to politics with strong indications of allegedly eyeing the Siavonga Constituency Seat on the UPND ticket.

But the latter has denied the allegations on several occasions, only time will tell as to where Chipenzi will be heading after playing a critical role in offering checks and balances to the PF government.

WHO is Next? CCA continues to monitor the situation and will be giving updates as we run to polls this year.

Should Street Vendors Pay Levy?

They have been on the streets for about five years now, these are street vendors! Immediately President Michale Sata (MHSRIP) won elections in 2011, he allowed Marketeers to conduct business activities on the streets a move that received condemnation from different stakeholders. However the directive stayed on till date.

Despite the environment being not conducive, many vendors feel comfortable to be on the streets regardless of the season, for them it’s the best way to attract a customer.

Kitwe, Livingstone and Lusaka have the highest Number of street vendors according to statistics. This has left Markets into white elephants with Kitwe’s newly constructed Nakadoli Market being a perfect example.

In Kitwe, Chisokene Market the largest on the Copperbelt has partially been left empty as most marketeers prefer to be on the streets than in the market. A survey shows most stands in the market empty.

This has resulted in Local Authorities being on the losing end in the collection of revenue as levying street vendors has been a challenge in most council across the country.

Should Street Vendors pay Levy?

Most street vendors have complained that council officials have been levying but not in a formal manner. One important fact is that they (vendors) have admitted contributing to the accumulation of waste in various towns.

The Kitwe City Council has engaged street vendor’s leadership to find ways of how they can start levying.

City Council Public Relations Manager Dorothy Sampa said vendors are in business and have been contributing to the accumulation of waste in the city.

“We are in talks with street vendors’ leadership whilst making consultations with relevant stakeholders on how best we can maximise the collection of revenue” Mr Sampa said.

After this what next? Check on the blog as I catch up with street vendors and get their opinions in my next write up.