JUST two days before voters in Lumezi line up to cast their ballots in a high-stakes by-election, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has found itself on the receiving end of serious side-eye, after it was discovered that one candidate’s name on the ballot paper was ommitted.
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ECZ chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro confirmed in a statement that while other candidate details were correctly captured, the name of one participating candidate was inadvertently left out during the ballot printing process.
However, it is uncertain if the commission was the party that forgot to include the name or the blame goes to the printers.
ECZ explained that all other details were correctly printed, except for the omission which has raised eyebrows about the credibility of the ballot preparation process.
Kasaro said the Commission has since commenced a thorough internal review to determine the cause of the omission and explore the appropriate corrective measures in line with electoral laws and procedures.
“The Commission regrets this lapse and wishes to assure all stakeholders and the public that the integrity of the electoral process remains the highest priority,” he stated.
He added that a comprehensive update will be provided once the ongoing review is concluded.
The Lumezi by-election is set for Thursday, June 26, and the Commission says it is treating the matter with the urgency it deserves to ensure a fair and credible election.
Stakeholders are now awaiting guidance from ECZ on how the anomaly will be resolved ahead of polling day.
By George Musonda
Kalemba June 24, 2025
