ZAMBIA: Low Voter Turn-Out must be a Major Concern in the Coming General Election
The
just concluded Presidential by-election in Zambia was characterized by Low voter
turnout (less than one-third of the electorate) in the history of the country with
some places sitting at only 20 percent of registered voters.
According
to Mr. Eugene Kabilika, head of Programs at Caritas Zambia of the Zambian
Episcopal Conference, no clear assessment has been done either by the Church,
the media, civil society organizations or the government to determine why the
turnout was low.
Kabilika
said that the last census carried out in 2010 put the country with estimated population
of 13 Million while the voting age population approximately 6 Million. “Due to
time constraints, the Electoral Commission of Zambia did not register new
voters, but instead relied on the voter rolls from the 2011 election, in which about
5, Million people were registered. “Of the registered population, only 1.6
Million people voted on that day of election, that is 32.4 percent; making it
to be the lowest voter turnout in the history of the country.
said that the last census carried out in 2010 put the country with estimated population
of 13 Million while the voting age population approximately 6 Million. “Due to
time constraints, the Electoral Commission of Zambia did not register new
voters, but instead relied on the voter rolls from the 2011 election, in which about
5, Million people were registered. “Of the registered population, only 1.6
Million people voted on that day of election, that is 32.4 percent; making it
to be the lowest voter turnout in the history of the country.
The
heavy rain that was reported on the material day of the election has been
attributed to the
heavy rain that was reported on the material day of the election has been
attributed to the
low voter turnout by some analysts, but, according to Kabilika,
the argument is disputed by many.
“My
personal view for the low voters’ turnout is based on two things; one, since
the Patriotic Front party (PF) came into power Zambia has had so many by-elections
and people were literally suffering from what I may call the election fatigue.
Every time there was a by-election you would see the drop in participation,
whereby in a constituency with a population of 8000 people, only 4000 would
turn out to vote during the by-elections,” Kabilika explained adding that “Secondly,
I think that the way campaigns were being run by political parties, somehow did
not inspire the masses to go out and vote and so the rains provided a perfect
excuse to stay away from the polls.”
personal view for the low voters’ turnout is based on two things; one, since
the Patriotic Front party (PF) came into power Zambia has had so many by-elections
and people were literally suffering from what I may call the election fatigue.
Every time there was a by-election you would see the drop in participation,
whereby in a constituency with a population of 8000 people, only 4000 would
turn out to vote during the by-elections,” Kabilika explained adding that “Secondly,
I think that the way campaigns were being run by political parties, somehow did
not inspire the masses to go out and vote and so the rains provided a perfect
excuse to stay away from the polls.”
Zambia
will be holding a general election in 2016; and according to Kabilika, much has
to be done by all stakeholders including the Church, the government through ECZ,
the Civil Society organizations as well as political parties in order to
improve voters’ turnout next year.
will be holding a general election in 2016; and according to Kabilika, much has
to be done by all stakeholders including the Church, the government through ECZ,
the Civil Society organizations as well as political parties in order to
improve voters’ turnout next year.
“ECZ
must carry out a massive voter registration exercise throughout the country.
The last voter registration exercise happened in 2010. Five years down the line
many people have come of age and need voters card; others have lost their
voters’ cards and need replacements, while others have migrated from where they
were registered to other parts of the country and needs to be re-registered
afresh,” he explained.
must carry out a massive voter registration exercise throughout the country.
The last voter registration exercise happened in 2010. Five years down the line
many people have come of age and need voters card; others have lost their
voters’ cards and need replacements, while others have migrated from where they
were registered to other parts of the country and needs to be re-registered
afresh,” he explained.
He
said, “Although Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) does its own civic
education to encourage voters’ turnout, civil society organizations and all
those who are in governance programs as well as Church needs to join in the
exercise. Caritas Zambia is a member of Civic Education Committee at ECZ.”
said, “Although Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) does its own civic
education to encourage voters’ turnout, civil society organizations and all
those who are in governance programs as well as Church needs to join in the
exercise. Caritas Zambia is a member of Civic Education Committee at ECZ.”
“Political
Parties also need to carry their bit by encouraging their supporters to go and
vote. They have also a major role to play in determining voters’ turnout, a
role that is quite often forgotten,” he said.
Parties also need to carry their bit by encouraging their supporters to go and
vote. They have also a major role to play in determining voters’ turnout, a
role that is quite often forgotten,” he said.
By Pamela Adinda, AMECEA Online News Reporter
