Democratic Union President Ackim Njobvu has expressed concern over the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s decision to require political parties to meet the cost of sending representatives to witness the printing of ballot papers for the 2026 General Elections.
Mr. Njobvu says the electoral process is funded by government and that the costs associated with observing the printing of ballot papers should have been catered for within the election budget arguing that requiring political parties to sponsor their own representatives risks excluding some stakeholders from a process that is meant to promote transparency and accountability.
He further says the decision raises concerns about the integrity of the ballot printing process, as not all political parties may have the financial capacity to send representatives abroad for the 20-day exercise adding that broad participation by political players is important in enhancing public confidence in the electoral process and ensuring transparency.
Mr. Njobvu has made a call for Zambia to begin printing ballot papers locally, saying this would reduce costs and make the process more accessible to stakeholders and that government should consider investing in local printing capacity or engaging credible local firms to undertake the task, and that such a move would help save resources and strengthen confidence in the management of elections.
Democratic Union leader condemns ECZ Over Ballot Printing Witness Cost, warning that this requirement risks excluding parties from oversight process.
