Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says the on-going voter registration exercise will not be extended for now.
Speaking in an interview with Money FM News, Commission Acting Public Relations Manager Sylvia Bwalya said this is because the country’s electoral body is optimistic that it will meet the 9 million targeted voters by the end of the exercise.
Ms. Bwalya stated that the Voter registration which commenced on 9th November 2020 will come to an end on 12th December as scheduled.
“For now there is no extension because we are optimistic that we will meet our target. What I have said is that there is no extension for now as the commission is optimistic that we will meet our target and that’s our 9 million target by the end of the exercise,” Ms. Bwalya stated.
Ms. Bwalya’s comment comes in the wake of calls by various stakeholders for the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to consider extending the voter registration period to accord more Zambians an opportunity to register as voters.
The stakeholders say the exercise has been marred with numerous lapses such as the breakdown of some machines and slow pace at which the registration process is being done, thereby subjecting people to queue up for long hours.