By JOHN SAKALA
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has welcomed the extension of voter registration by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
ECZ last week announced that it will on Wednesday tomorrow December 16, 2020 announce when the extension will start running.
LAZ Honorary Secretary Sokwani Chilembo said on November 11, 2020, LAZ had written to the ECZ over the voter registration exercise, and the ECZ on November 13, 2020 did respond that it would consider LAZ’s recommendations.
“LAZ wishes to commend the ECZ for having listened and implemented, among others, the call for extension of the time frame for registration of voters as advanced by LAZ and various stakeholders following widespread concerns raised and engagements made with the ECZ.
“LAZ is cognizant that under Article 229(c) of the Constitution of Zambia, the responsibility to register voters rests with the ECZ. However, the right to freely participate in the electoral process is a fundamental right of members of the public in our democratic state and is protected under Article 46 of the Constitution of Zambia,” said Mr Chilembo.
He is hopeful that the extended period which will be announced by the ECZ tomorrow, December 15, 2020 will be sufficient to capture the targeted 9 million voters, bearing in mind the number of eligible voters that were captured over the initial 30 days.
He said the need for ECZ to ensure that no eligible voter is disenfranchised from voting on account of processes, and that everyone must be carried along cannot be over emphasized.
