Zambia's Election Scandal: Opposition Alleges 'Suspicious Secrecy' Over Ballot Papers, Demands Transparency

The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) has voiced profound shock, disturbance, and disappointment regarding the Electoral Commission of Zambia's (ECZ) handling of ballot papers. The party alleges that the ECZ is managing the movement and handling of ballot papers from Dubai to Lusaka International Airport with suspicious secrecy, effectively blacking out opposition stakeholders from crucial information at every stage. With the first consignment of ballot papers anticipated to arrive, NRPUP highlighted several critical concerns that the ECZ has failed to address, threatening the integrity and credibility of the upcoming elections.

NRPUP outlined seven key areas of concern. Firstly, there has been no Stakeholders Meeting to update and familiarize political parties and other actors on the scope, procedures, and mandate of local ballot verification teams, leaving everyone, including NRPUP, in the dark. Secondly, the ECZ has allegedly failed to provide meaningful advance information, such as the Parking List or actual cargo manifests, leaving stakeholders ignorant about the types of ballot papers expected daily as flights arrive in Lusaka. Thirdly, the commission has omitted to disclose the full daily schedule of ballot papers, their categories, the vessels carrying them, and their routes from Dubai.

Further concerns raised by NRPUP include unanswered questions about whether the ballot papers are arriving on commercial or chartered private planes, and if these flights are direct to Lusaka or involve refueling stops. The ECZ is also accused of being