Church bodies satisfied with ballot papers printing

the process as transparent, credible and one that meets the necessary requirements for the conduct of democratic polls.
Meanwhile, the Durban-based company has completed the printing of all the targeted 5,5 million presidential ballot papers and has started the printing the National Assembly ones ahead of the September 20 presidential and general elections.
Giving an overview of the process since it started on Tuesday last week, Reverend Sitali Kakungu, who is representing the Council of Churches in Zambia (CCZ), the Zambia Episcopal Conference (ZEC) and Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ) said there had been nothing so far that should cause doubts in terms of how the printing was being managed.
Islamic Supreme Council of Zambia (ISCZ) secretary general Sheikh Shaban Phiri said people criticising the process merely wanted to divide Zambians and it was impossible to print and deliver ballot papers to Lusaka before the details of the candidates were known.
The Zambian voters are expected to elect a president from a pool of 10 candidates for the September 20 general elections, in addition to 150 parliamentarians and all councilors.
“We are very satisfied with the process and all the anxieties have been rested now. We have also learnt that the South African, Nigerian and many other governments print ballot papers here at Uniprint, so we are very satisfied,” Rev Kakungu said.
On the allegations that the firm could have been involved in corruption, Rev Kakungu said their explanation was clear that it would help stakeholders to check the records of Uniprint at the South African police.
He said Zambian stakeholders should not destroy the character of Uniprint amid high levels of trust that other governments had invested in the company that has a chain of branches, including Johannesburg.
Uniprint projects manager Keval Mehta told the group when it arrived in Durban that the firm was strong both locally and internationally and used credibility to win tenders and not corruption.
Mr Mehta said Uniprint had built its credibility over a period of time and would not want the firm’s character to be destroyed by such accusations.
It has also emerged that Uniprint has done top-class jobs for economically viable governments such as the Central African Republic, Guinea, ECZ in Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Botswana Mozambique, Nigeria, Lesotho, Swaziland, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of Congo among others.
Rev said even though the Church did not want to be drawn into the politics of corruption, the company that is printing the ballot papers should not be compared with any one in Zambia
Kabwata Constituency Patriotic Front (PF) parliamentary candidate Given Lubinda has alleged corruption at ECZ and that some ballot papers were already in Lusaka but stakeholders have challenged him to produce specific evidence on the matter and show the nation where they were hidden. And ballot papers for 10 constituencies have been printed following the completion of the ones of the parliamentary candidates. – Times of Zambia.