The Kabwe District Electoral Officer (DEO) for Lukanga Ward by-election, Jovax Ngoma has urged the poll staff to be careful and follow the procedures and processes to the later.

Mr Ngoma says confidence, etiquette, respect, recognition and receptiveness to assist the electorate should be the top priority of the November 4th, 2024 Local Government by-election in the area.

Mr Ngoma, who is also Kabwe Town Clerk, was speaking at the close of the three days training of the poll staff at the Boma Hall in Kabwe this afternoon.

“Let us follow the procedures and processes to the future. Confidence, etiquette, respect, recognition and receptiveness to assist the people that are coming to vote because those are the values of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), ” Mr Ngoma said.

He said it is the desire of the ECZ to see election results that are fair and acceptable by every objective person.

He urged the poll staff to be objective and impartial because these are the cornerstone of credible election results.

“Impartiality and objectivity are the cornerstone of a credible election. We are confident, just like the trainers have said that they are confident you have assimilated the material that you will deliver on Monday,” he said.

And Master Trainer, Hector Hatimbula said he was confident that the poll staff will deliver a successful and credible election.

Meanwhile, ECZ Voter Education Manager, Emma Simfukwe has declared the poll staff ready for the Monday Local Government by-election.

Ms Simfukwe has urged the poll staff to uphold the values of the Electoral body, ECZ. You are going there as an ECZ staff member and you should conduct yourselves in a professional but impartial manner. Remember you are bound by the law and if you have challenges do not hesitate to inform the Returning Officer or the DEO,” she urged.

The people of Lukanga Local Government Ward go to the polls on Monday the 4th of November 2024 to choose a representative in the Kabwe Municipal Chamber.

The seat fell vacant following the court conviction for theft by the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) Councillor Belemu Sibanze.

The poll which was earlier scheduled for the 27th of October 2024 was stayed by the court after the convict obtained an injunction upon appealing against the conviction.

Four candidates will be battling it out for the vacant civic position among them George Kambaki, an Independent candidate, Fanwell Musonda of the Citizen First (CF) Party, John Kalunga of the Socialist Party (SP) and Clement Sikufaniso of the UPND.