Zambian general election, 2016: Difference between revisions

==Ballot papers==

There was a lot of controversy in the printing of the ballot papers; previously all ballot papers had been printed in South Africa, but the Electoral commission of Zambia awarded the contract for the 2016 elections to a firm in Dubai. The contract was significantly more expensive and many opposition parties criticised the move. Parties opposed the move as printing the ballot papers outside Africa was expensive to verify and increased the chance of electoral fraud.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/printing-zambia-ballot-papers-on-course-commission-says/3409989.html|title=Printing of Zambia Ballots on Course, Electoral Commission Reports|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> To counter the suspicion of rigging, the Electoral Commission allowed party officials to travel to Dubai to witness the printing of the ballots; all ballot papers were to be only released if all party officials approved of the process.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/zambia-opposition-having-ballots-printed-dubai-could-undermine-vote/3429490.html|title=Zambia Opposition: Having Ballots Printed in Dubai Could Undermine Vote|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> The printing was completed on 20 July 2016 and the ballots were transported to Zambia on 28 July 2016.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lusakatimes.com/2016/07/27/last-batch-ballot-papers-transported-dubai-airport/|title=Zambia : Last batch of ballot papers transported to Dubai Airport|last=Editor|first=Chief|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref> However, concerns with respect to the transport and distribution of the ballot papers then arose. The [[Zambian Air Force]] were responsible for distributing the ballots across the country.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voanews.com/content/ballots-zambian-elections-arrive-this-week/3437504.html|title=Ballots for Zambian Elections to Arrive This Week|access-date=2016-08-04}}</ref>