The Electoral Commission of Zambia has explained that the directive to ban the use of cell phone in the polling stations in the August elections was aimed at ensuring that voters do not undermine the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
ECZ Director Priscilla Isaac “They would not be allowed to use cellphones inside the polling stations. But if somebody needs to make a call or send a message, they can do so outside the polling station building, because we found that cellphone use inside tends to be disruptive,” Ms. Isaac said.
“Last year in January, we actually had some voters taking photos of their ballot paper after they had marked it, and they were posting it on social media, which is not permissible because that is equivalent to campaigning, and it compromises the secrecy of the ballot,” she said.
Some civil society and opposition groups said the commission directive infringes on voters’ rights, since the constitution guarantees freedom of expression.
They also said the commission failed to consult all stakeholders before issuing the directive.
They accused the electoral body of doing the bidding of President Edgar Lungu and his governing Patriotic Front party.
“That is not true,” Isaac said. “It is just to make sure that we maintain order within the polling stations and not have the secrecy of the vote compromised, and we don’t want disturbances in the polling stations. Can you imagine you are in a polling station and people are voting and everybody is talking on the phone, and tweeting and what have you? It would just become disruptive, and cause discomfort to the voter.”
“People would have to obey,” she said. “Once the electoral commission gives a directive of how procedures are within the polling stations, then people would have to comply. And it is not unique to Zambia. In the Seychelles, they are not even allowed to enter a polling station with your phone.”
Critics of the cellphone directive, Isaac said, would be the first to complain and say they were being “disadvantaged” if ballots being circulated on social media were not being cast for their candidates.
She also compared the issue to the desire not to have election results announced while voting is still underway “because there is a possibility of it influencing those that are voting.
The same can be said about marked ballot papers being posted on social media during the course of voting on election day.”
But some opposition groups have questioned the rationale behind the directive.
Parliament member Request Muntanga, of the main opposition United Party for National Development, called it disturbing.
Local media quoted Muntanga as saying, “I want to see where there is a regulation that says no cellphone [in polling stations]. … The [electoral commission] is already creating uneasiness among players.”
Ecz don’t be intimidated.Go with the right thing!
Naba Tumpa sana aba ba ECZ, maka maka ka Priscilla na Chulu or is it Chula. No wonder mulelwisha ka immunity to protect you from the wrongs you want to do and have been doing all this time. You got away with it last time but this time muichindike otherwise mwalakafwilamo na Lungu ashala. Ichindikeni!!
Emotions should be confined to personal life situations and circumstances. Not to public office work madam Priscilla. Who would trust that the ECZ is doing a professional job after ECZ ignored stakeholders concerns about printing ballot papers in Dubai at a greater cost to Zambians? Whatever decisions your ECZ makes from now onwards will raise suspicions. You just want to win your arguments whatever the cost to Zambians. Yet you claim to be for Zambia. Of course you are not. You are for your bottomless pockets which Zambian taxpayers are sweating to fill.
I’m struggling to see the sense in this ban, using a phone in a polling station is disruptive?
The problem with ECZ and Ms. Isaac is that the prefect mentality they have. Surely before coming with such directive, they should agree with stakeholders, particularly leaders of political parties who are spending a lot of money paying ECZ. Leaders of political parties and aspiring MPs even Councillors should not be made to pay such huge sums of money for an electoral process that is based on deceit. Those that are participating in such immoral practices should start burning here on earth. This is very bad.
last time we voted with our phones and we didn’t see any problem iwe mukashana u want to set our country into fire
ECZ HAS ALOT TO HIDE & ITS LEADERSHIP IS COMPROMISED .THIS IS A STRATEGY TO UNDERMINE TRANSPARENCY
..BE ALERT
We don’t want your government to disable all phone networks on 11th and during the counting days as was the case in Uganda where lungu’s mentor, Yoweri, raped the systems to his advantage (and where is the USA, please, to whip out such dictators!). In Zambia we won’t condone that nonsense of disabling phone data networks.
Vote Team HH people, change is inevitable!!!!
priscilla isaacks that is bullshit!
ka Isaac p.u will have no were to run to when we come for u.
nonsense..that is not a reason!!
This is the problem with ECZ and the entire Zambian electoral ssystem. These guys should never be appointed by the Executive arm of government. It is just like soccer. You cannot have the head coach of one competing team officiating for the same match. What we have is ECL being the head coach for PF and actively appointing ECZ officials and officiating in ECZ matters. ECZ owes its allegiance to the appointing authority. That is the reason why they can issue illegal directives with impunity knowing their pay master will protect them. What we need to hear is ECZ telling all false Prophets against speculating on the outcome of elections as that is prejudicial. Let people have their smartphones even in the polling stations. The trouble is ECZ has a lot to hide hence the worry.
This is about rigging. Period. They cant cheat us. How does a phone affect ECZ transparency?
Orange u want to help to rig also by campaigning at a wrong time