In addition, as at end of day on Tuesday, 169 observers had
been accredited with 145 of them being local observers and 24 local
journalists. However, international observers are yet to get accreditation.
ZEC vice chairperson Ambassador Rodney Kiwa told The Herald
that the printing of ballot papers has commenced, but the only drawback is that
in some constituencies there were appeals against the rejection or acceptance
of candidates’ papers.
However, Amb Kiwa said they were hopeful that the legal
matters would be settled soon.
“Procurement of essential election material for the
harmonised elections is at around 80 percent with the rest in progress. Section
239(g) of the Constitution gives the Commission the mandate to design, print
and distribute ballot papers, among other functions. The Commission has
commenced the exercise of designing the ballot papers for all contested
National Assembly constituencies and local authority wards as well as the
Presidential Ballot.
“The drawback, however, as you may appreciate, is the
designing of the ballot papers for those constituencies where an appeal has
been lodged against the rejection or acceptance of a prospective candidate’s
papers.
“The Commission hopes that this legal challenge will be
concluded soon to allow it to conclusively deal with the design thereof,” he
said.
ZEC, said Amb Kiwa, would reveal the names of where and who
was printing the ballot papers, as well as the total number printed in due
course.
“Regarding the printing of ballot papers, the Commission
will in due course and in line with provisions of Section 52A of the Electoral
Act inform the general public and other stakeholders of where and by whom the
ballot papers for the election are being printed as well as the total number of
ballot papers that have been printed in respect of each election,” he said.
Amb Kiwa said the electoral body would publish the final
list of polling stations through the media, 21 days before polling day and on
the day of the election.
“The Commission has established 11 501 polling stations
throughout the country. Please note that some of these polling stations are
composite hence they may be split to maintain the 1000 voter population
threshold.
“The final list of polling stations will be published in
the press 21 days before polling and on Election Day. These stations were
established in terms of Section 51 of the Electoral Act, which provides that
the Commission should establish polling stations at places it finds suitable
and convenient to voters.
“The law compels the Commission to establish adequate
polling stations in each of the country’s 1 970 wards with each polling station
being located at a place that is readily accessible to the public, including
persons with physical disabilities,” he said.
According to its elections calendar, ZEC will next month
publish polling stations, conduct elections for the National Council of Chiefs
and elect its president and deputy president, close receipt of postal vote
ballots and hold its second observers’ briefing.
August 16 will see the dispatch of postal votes to
constituencies and will be the last day for the submission of names of roving
agents.
August 18 will be the day printed ballot papers will be
published with the closure of receipt of applications for observer
accreditation on the following day.
The electoral body last week closed its receipt of postal
vote applications and held its first observers briefing. Herald
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