Ahead of polls, EU voices confidence in Zambia’s electoral system

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) – The EU’s top representative in Zambia expressed optimism Tuesday about a credible outcome in the East African nation from this week’s general elections.

Speaking during the countdown to Thursday’s polls, Jacek Jankowski, head of the EU Delegation to Zambia, said a credible outcome can be expected because the country presented sound democratic practices and is expected to remain a beacon of peace after the elections.

“The EU election observer mission has been in Zambia since July and will issue a consolidated post-election report to offer recommendations on any shortcomings that would be observed in the election,” Jankowski told reporters in the capital Lusaka.

Speaking alongside Jankowski was Anna Wagner Mitchell, the German ambassador to Zambia, who said it was expected that President Edgar Lungu’s deployment of soldiers on the streets would result in the safety of voters and the public.

Anna Maj Hultgard, the Swedish ambassador to Zambia, said it was important for Zambians to participate in their civic duty of voting without any intimidation.

Others diplomats in Lusaka who spoke at the ceremony included Italian Ambassador Antonio Maggiore, Finish Ambassador Pirjo Suomela-Chowdhury, and French Ambassador Francois Goldblatt.

Zambia is set to go the polls on Thursday amid fears that the country’s peace is under threat due to pre-election violence in some regions.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has, however, assured that safety measures are in place for both the voters and observers and has committed to release official final results of the poll within 72 hours after the last polling station closes.