Results tabulation deteriorated-EU observers
By Thandizo Banda
THE European Union Election Observation Mission (EU-EOM) says the conduct of results tabulation in Zambia’s just-ended general election deteriorated.
In its latest election observation update, the EU-EOM said results tabulation was conducted at 226 constituency-level totaling centres, with the process still ongoing at some centres at the time of its assessment.
The mission noted that on August 14, a day after polling, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) suspended the counting and announcement of election results across the country between 12:00 and 18:00 hours, citing violent incidents targeting polling staff and allegations of ballot box theft in some areas.
“Until the suspension, results tabulation was assessed as ‘very good’ in 43 per cent of the EOM’s observations. Polling agents and citizen observers were present in almost all totaling centres observed and followed results entry,” it said.
However, the EU EOM said no further details were provided regarding where the incidents occurred or whether they were isolated cases or part of a broader pattern.
The mission said the situation changed considerably after the suspension was lifted late on August 14.
The EU-EOM said the transparency of tabulation was subsequently assessed as bad or very bad in 12 percent of observed totaling centres, while those rated very good fell to 27 percent.
The mission also reported that in 42 percent of observations after the suspension, totaling centre staff did not immediately record results on tally sheets after they were announced by returning officers, compared with 30 percent before the suspension.
“In 42 per cent of observations after the suspension, totaling centre staff failed to record results on the tally sheet as soon as they were announced by the returning officer, compared to 30 per cent beforehand. The proportion of observations where staff ensured figures entered in the digital results management kit matched the tally sheet dropped to 81 per cent, from 100 per cent prior to the suspension. Extended breaks during tabulation were reported in almost half of observations, as returning officers appeared to wait for instructions from ECZ headquarters before announcing results,” the update read.
The Mission also stated the proportion of observations in which officials ensured that figures entered into the digital results management system corresponded with figures recorded on tally sheets dropped from 100 percent before the suspension to 81 percent afterwards.
EU observers further reported extended breaks in the tabulation process in nearly half of their observations, with returning officers appearing to wait for instructions from ECZ headquarters before announcing results.
The mission also raised concern over the heavy military presence at totaling centres following the suspension, saying most interlocutors considered the presence intimidating.
It said fewer political party agents and citizen observers were consequently present at some centres than before the suspension.
“In Lusaka, an armed group attacked the totaling centre in Makeni on August 15 and took almost all polling station result forms. In Central Province, credible witnesses told observers that alleged UPND cadres raided two out of three totaling centres in Kabwe on August 16, fundamentally disrupting the tabulation process,” the EU EOM said.
Meanwhile, the EU EOM said it received reports of violence affecting the tabulation process in some parts of the country.
In Central Province, EU observers interviewed various credible witnesses who alleged that UPND cadres raided two of Kabwe’s three totaling centres on August 16, seriously disrupting the tabulation process.
The mission has also questioned the level of transparency surrounding the publication of election results.
