Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) wishes to commend the high level of credibility and accuracy in the election results that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has announced so far at the National Results Centre. Out of a total of 21 constituency results analyzed so far, only 1 had a computational error while the 20 were perfect matches. We are hopeful that the observed error on the Mazabuka Central Constituency result will be addressed by the Commission in order to maintain credibility.
Through a network of monitors deployed across the country, we have been conducting a comprehensive Parallel Vote Tabulation. The approach of our PVT has been unconventional due to the restrictions imposed by the newly amended Electoral Process Act. We have not been sharing our PVT totals but have been using them to compare with ECZ’s results as announced at the National Results Centre and published on the ECZ website. Through an integrity index which takes a value of 100% if our PVT results are identical to ECZ results and 0% if there is a compete mismatch, we have noted that the ECZ has thus far been highly credible and accurate. We therefore encourage them to continue on this trajectory with no fear or favour.
TI-Z has also noted the high level of vigilance exhibited by members of the public regarding the counting of votes. Following a report from members of the public we investigated and found that for Pemba Constituency, the ECZ commissioner wrongly announced a value of 39,470 for Mr. Hakainde Hichilema instead of 29,470. She, however corrected herself by stating the digits individually. Mr. Hichilema has therefore not been denied 10,000 votes from Pemba since the ECZ website has the correct value of 29,470. In any case it is not possible to get 39,470 votes from Pemba Constituency since there are only 34,403 registered voters.
Maurice K. Nyambe
TI-Z Executive Director
