The Anti-Voter Apathy Project (AVAP) says the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ)’s move to launch Continuous Voter Registration ( CRV) in ten additional centers in all ten provinces is progressive.
AVAP Executive Director Richwell Mulwani says the Commission should therefore be commended for implementing the provision which is enshrined in the electoral process act that it should provide CRV.
In an interview with ZANIS , Mr Mulwani said that the commissions’ willingness to implement this provision should be supported by all well-meaning Zambians.
“We are happy to see this development because the ECZ is the governance structure that we have that should provide for and ensure that citizens of this country are able to participate in the electoral process,” he said.
The AVAP Executive Director has therefore encouraged citizens to ultilise the development to register as voters at the centers adding that this will enable new entrants as well as those with lost voters’ cards or errors to register.
He further disclosed that his organisation will soon be rolling out voter registration education to Western, Eastern and Copperbelt provinces to help create more awareness.
He has also appealed to the Ministry of Home Affairs and internal security to undertake comprehensive mobile issuance of National Registration Cards (NRCs) to allow more people to register as voters.
And Southern African Center for the Constructive Resolutions of Disputes ( SACCORD) has called on political parties to desist from politicising the launch of the CRV in the new districts.
SACCORD acting Executive Director Arthur Muyunda said there is a need for all stakeholders to get involved and provide sensitization to communities so that people can turnout in numbers to register as voters.
Mr. Muyunda noted that increasing the number of districts for registration will be pointless without providing potential voters with information.
He called on the ECZ, Civil society organizations and other stakeholders to gear up society and create awareness about the continuous voter registration
“Let everyone get involved and not just become active when it’s time for election support voter education, the ECZ should even look at re-engaging the voter registration committees in all the newly introduced districts so that they can go and sensitize people,” she said.
Mr Mulwani has further called on the media to ensure they provide extensive coverage on the CRV.
