PVT BACKS HH…Civil Society PVT tally broadly matches with ECZ results.
PVT BACKS HH
…Civil Society PVT tally broadly matches with ECZ results.
CONSORTIUM of Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance and Constitutionalism says its independent parallel vote tabulation (PVT) estimates were broadly consistent with the presidential results announced by Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), providing additional evidence that the national outcome was accurately captured.
Consortium chairperson Isaac Mwanza said the differences between the PVT estimates and official results were within approximately three percentage points across the provinces for the two leading candidates.
Speaking during a media briefing, Mr Mwanza said the consortium’s PVT estimated that President Hakainde Hichilema received 57.9 per cent of the presidential vote, compared with the official 60.49 per cent announced by ECZ.
He said National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile was estimated to have received 40.2 per cent, against the official 37.87 per cent.
Mr Mwanza, however, stressed that PVT was not a substitute for ECZ, which remains the constitutionally mandated institution responsible for declaring official election results.
He said Zambians had spoken through the ballot at presidential, parliamentary and local-government levels and that their choices must be respected.
Those dissatisfied with particular results, he added, retained the right to challenge them through the courts and other lawful mechanisms.
Mr Mwanza said the election had highlighted the need for comprehensive constitutional and electoral reforms, including addressing withdrawn candidates, running mate vacancies, invalid votes, qualification verification, and the correction and re declaration of results.
He urged ECZ to strengthen ballot-finalisation and voter information procedures, particularly where candidates withdraw after nomination, saying qualification verification should be completed and publicly confirmed before ballots are finalised.
The consortium also recommended the establishment of independent electoral courts to handle electoral and political-party disputes, while calling on public institutions to improve rapid and transparent communication.
Mr Mwanza urged political parties, media organisations, influencers and citizens to verify information before disseminating it, saying accurate information is critical to maintaining public confidence in the electoral process.
ZDM