The first consignment of ballot papers for Zambia’s August 13 general election has arrived at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka, with the Electoral Commission of Zambia moving quickly to dismiss circulating claims that additional ballots were being printed in Tanzania.
ECZ chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis confirmed that 202 pallets of ballot material landed under police escort, with the remaining 185 pallets expected the same day. The consignment was witnessed by representatives of political parties, civil society organisations, faith-based groups and the media, who were invited to observe the offloading and its onward transport to the Commission’s warehouse in Silverest. Zaloumis dismissed the Tanzania claims as misinformation that could damage public trust, insisting all ballot papers were produced by Al Ghurair Printing and Publishing in Dubai under the supervision of party, civil society and media representatives throughout the printing process.
The arrival follows a bumpy final stretch in the ballot logistics timeline. ECZ had originally targeted a July 26 delivery, but a series of flight schedule changes by the charter operator pushed the date back twice, prompting NRPUP chief presidential advisor and Tonse Alliance secretary-general Zumani Zimba to allege that the Commission had not fully disclosed information on the ballots’ movement — a claim ECZ Commissioner Ndiyoi Mutiti rejected, saying the Commission had involved every stakeholder from the beginning and shared flight details on a platform accessible to all parties present in Dubai.
ECZ has confirmed that more than 35 million ballot papers were printed in total for the election. The final consignment was scheduled to depart Dubai on July 31 and arrive in Lusaka the same morning, completing the delivery process roughly two weeks ahead of polling day.
Sources: Lusaka Times | News Diggers | The Zambian Observer
