The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) says it is working tirelessly to ensure that all the activities for the 2021 General Elections, whose election date cannot be changed as it is enshrined in the Constitution, are conducted in time.
Commission Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse told Money FM News in a statement that ECZ has drawn a roadmap for activities leading to the 2021 polls.
Ms. Chimanse said the Commission will conduct Voter Registration from 19th October to 20th November, 2020, adding that all eligible citizens will be required to register in the 2020 Voter Registration exercise.
“In about a year from now, Zambia will hold its General Election on 12th August 2021. Article 56 (1) of the Constitution of Zambia Amendment Act No. 2 of 2016 states that a general election shall be held, every five years after the last general election, on the second Thursday of August.”
“Preparations for the 2021 General Election started in 2019 when the Commission, conducted the Delimitation of Constituencies, Wards and Polling Districts,” Ms. Chimanse stated.
She added that the country’s electoral body has also provided for pre-registration of voters, where eligible citizens will start the process by submitting their details online, after which they will be required to physically visit the registration centers to have their biometric data captured and voters cards’ issued to them.
Ms. Chimanse further said the 2020 Voter Registration exercise will be based on the 2019 delimitation, which facilitated the creation of new polling stations and wards.
“After, the Voter Registration exercise, the Commission will have to consolidate all the data captured and produce a Provisional Register of Voters, which citizens will inspect from 29th March to 2nd April, 2021.”
“The Inspection of the Register of Voters will be followed by the certification of the Register by the Commission on the 9th of May, 2021 in readiness for the Nominations, which will take place from 17th May to 21st May, 2021. The Campaign period will run from 24th May, 2021 to 11th August, 2021,” she said.