POLICE MANDATED TO PROTECT BALLOT BOXES, SAYS CHONGWE ELECTORAL OFFICER

By JOHN KOMBE THE Zambia police are the only ones mandated to provide security for election materials, stating that no other institution has the mandate to do so, Chongwe district electoral officer, Mulowa Sishuwa has said. Mr. Sishuwa made the observation when he addressed political party representatives and other stakeholders when the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) delivered ballot boxes for Chongwe constituency. He was reacting to suggestions by unnamed stakeholders who offered to provide security for the ballot boxes. Chongwe received four pallets of ballot boxes which contained 134 ballot boxes. The boxes were stored at the Chongwe Civic Centre strong room. The delivery and receipt of the items were witnessed by representatives from UNIP, DP, UPND, PF and four independent candidates. Mr. Sishuwa said that the State police were the only ones who had the mandate to protect public property. He said that the ballot papers were one such public property that should only be secured by the police. He said that police would provide 24-hour security up to the time the ballot boxes will be delivered to the 134 polling stations in the constituency. Mr. Sishuwa later led the stakeholders to inspect the strong room which was declared secure by all parties present. And political party representatives were happy with the process. UPND representative, Robert Mubanga said that the election materials were well received and as such did not see any anomaly so far. PF representative Charles Mumena was happy that ECZ had engaged all political parties to assure transparency. He said that election materials such as ballot boxes needed to be received and opened in the presence of all stakeholders to allay any suspicions