Election Preparations Proceeding Smoothly

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LUSAKA 001188 SIPDIS SENSITIVE SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PGOV ZA SUBJECT: Election Preparations Proceeding Smoothly REFS: A) LUSAKA 1183; B) LUSAKA 1101; C) LUSAKA 1054 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The Electoral Commission of Zambia continues to respond thoroughly to concerns of stakeholders as it proceeds with ballot printing oversight, organizes distribution of ballots and other materials to polling stations, establishes conflict management mechanisms, and handles accreditation of observers and monitors. Foreign Mission cooperating partners remain impressed with the even-handed and capable performance of ECZ Chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima. The ECZ appears to be doing everything within its power to eliminate opportunities for election malfeasance and ensure voter confidence; however, it faces challenges in enforcing balance and objectivity in coverage by the state-owned print and electronic media. End summary. Introduction ¶2. (U) Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Chairperson Justice Irene Mambilima met with Chiefs of Mission and other diplomats on August 29 to provide another of her regular updates on Zambian election preparations. UNDP Resident Representative Aeneas Chuma provided a brief status report on the activities undertaken with the support of the Elections Trust Fund. Participants in the meeting asked the Chairperson about uneven media coverage of party activities, the lack of presidential debates, pending public opinion surveys, and the ECZ's decision not to offer special voting provisions to local monitors. Nominations Finalized; Female Representation Weak ¶3. (U) ECZ Chairperson Justice Mambilima reiterated that five nominees registered to contest the Presidency (Ref B) during the August 11-14 registration period. She commented on a minor controversy over the United Democratic Alliance candidacy, due to its being a coalition rather than a registered POLITICAL party, and explained that the ECZ resolved the matter by asking members of the parties in the coalition to send letters to endorse the coalition candidate. ¶4. (U) Justice Mambilima said that 709 candidates had registered to compete for 150 seats in the National Assembly, and the male-female breakdown among candidates was 603-106 (about 15 percent female participation). For local councilor positions, 4,095 candidates registered, with the male-female breakdown at 3,708 - 387, representing less than 10 percent female participation. The Chairperson commented on the large number of independent candidates running in National Assembly and local elections, and attributed this trend to what she termed the "confusion" among POLITICAL parties in choosing nominees (reftels). The ECZ collected a total of Kwacha 761.6 million (about US$ 200,000) in nomination fees. Justice Mambilima again defended the Kw 20 million (just over US$ 5,000) nomination fee imposed on presidential candidates, noting that despite complaints from some aspiring candidates, the sum was agreed upon by a consensus among stakeholders. ¶5. (U) The ECZ will make a copy of the full set of voter rolls in color (the rolls contain voters' photos) available to each of the five presidential candidates. The ECZ will also provide National Assembly and local government candidates with a free copy of the voter roll for their respective constituency or ward. The voter rolls will also be available for purchase. Ballot Printing and Distribution Logistics ¶6. (U) Justice Mambilima noted that the printing of ballot papers was underway in Durban by South African contractor Universal Printing. ECZ officers, representatives from civil society, media, the Anti-Corruption Commission, Zambian Police, and each of the five parties fielding presidential candidates traveled to Durban to observe the ballot printing process. Monitoring of the process promoted maximum transparency, and was a conscious effort to minimize the contentiousness of ballot printing and distribution issues related to the 2001 election, she said. ¶7. (U) The ECZ asked that the first tranche of printing be done for ballots to be used in hard-to-reach, remote areas of Zambia. These ballots should be available to the ECZ by September 10 for early delivery to the remote locations by both air and road. The ECZ will use a hangar at the Lusaka Airport to pack and seal up ballot papers for delivery. The ECZ is also trying to preposition various election materials, including ballot boxes, tables, chairs, and booths, as early in advance as possible, using ECZ trucks and Zambian Air Force planes for delivery. Election Observers and Monitors ¶8. (U) Justice Mambilima introduced the technical advisors engaged by the UNDP Elections Trust Fund, Marco Hasselaar and Dinah Kayumba, to assist the ECZ with the coordination of the accreditation of international observers, and training and support for observers. She confirmed that Zambians who are accredited under foreign LUSAKA 00001188 002 OF 003 Missions will be considered as international observers. She said the ECZ expected at least 200 international observers from the EU, Commonwealth, SADC and local diplomatic Missions. She added that the ECZ had received over 2,400 applications from local monitors to date. Voter Education and Awareness ¶9. (U) The Chairperson reported that voter education field activities are due to be completed by September 15. The ECZ continues to use community radio, TV, national radio, and print media for publicity and voter education programs. The ECZ is working through the Zambia National Information Service to provide mobile election "road shows" in all 72 districts around the country. Training, Conflict Management and Electoral Code of Conduct ¶10. (U) The ECZ Chairperson reported that district level conflict management committees were established and trained to address complaints, which had already been received from the Eastern Province. The Electoral Institute of Southern Africa provided the conflict management training for trainers drawn from NGOs, Zambian Police, the Anti-Corruption Commission, and the Ministry of Justice. Justice Mambilima said the ECZ held consultative workshops with judges from the Supreme Court, High Court, Industrial RELATIONS Court, and Police, all of whom play a key role in the electoral process. The training for police officers involved extensive deliberations of the Public Order Act. Members of the print and electronic media also received training on election reporting and the electoral process, and the ECZ continues to liaise with the Press Association of Zambia and its committees in provincial centers around the country. ¶11. (U) Justice Mambilima stressed that the ECZ will take seriously and give "due consideration" to all complaints about violations of the electoral code of conduct. The ECZ will not tolerate breaches, she stressed. She confirmed that the ECZ has already received complaints from individuals, candidates and POLITICAL parties on violations of the code of conduct and on electoral malpractices. Regarding a complaint brought against Patriotic Front presidential candidate Michael Sata (Ref A),Justice Mambilima explained that she met with Sata on August 25 and they reached a resolution, which will be announced "soon." She added that she also had briefed the complainant from the ruling party and said the ECZ thought arresting candidates in response to complaints would be counterproductive - her preferred response is to investigate and follow up with both sides to seek amicable resolution. ¶12. (U) The Chairperson also referred to media reports that all police officers were asked to provide their voter registration card details, and explained that a miscommunication may have occurred as a result of ECZ logistics planning. The ECZ wished to ensure that one uniformed police officer would be assigned at every polling station, and in order to verify the officers' voter registration, the Commission had requested particulars of those officers who will be assigned to polling station duty. She said she will ask the media to inform the public that they have no obligation to give their voter registration information to anyone, and that they should report any efforts to collect such information to the police or to the district conflict management committee. UNDP Fund Support to Women Candidates, Observer Missions ¶13. (U) United Nations Development Program Resident Representative Aeneas Chuma reported that the UNDP Elections Trust Fund's funding level was $8 million. Current efforts supported by the Fund include voter and civic education by over 650 facilitators in communities around Zambia and support for media campaigns. The Fund is assisting aspiring female candidates through training programs offered by the national Women's Lobby Group. The UNDP Fund is also supporting an accreditation secretariat whose technical advisors (para 8) will assist international observers. Other Concerns: Special Vote, Media, Debates, Polls ¶14. (U) Justice Mambilima reconfirmed the ECZ decision to forego organizing a "special vote" (along the lines of an absentee vote) for local monitors and others unable to be present at their designated polling station, explaining that the special vote provision was part of the new electoral law that was only recently passed, leaving the ECZ insufficient time to make adequate provisions for such a vote. She distinguished the special vote provisions from what she called "administrative" arrangements to enable police officers who will be on official duty at specified polling stations to vote. The Chairperson said the ECZ will encourage the groups sponsoring local monitors to do their best to limit the disenfranchisement of monitors. ¶15. (U) Cooperating partner representatives at the meeting raised continuing concerns about uneven media coverage and asked about LUSAKA 00001188 003 OF 003 prospects for presidential debates. Justice Mambilima disclosed that the ECZ was monitoring overall media coverage of candidates and parties, and had received specific complaints about disproportionate coverage of the ruling party's activities by the national broadcaster on particular days. She added that she had just met with public media chiefs to reinforce the importance of balanced coverage. ¶16. (U) Justice Mambilima said that National Assembly and local government candidates were actively engaging in debates around the country, but no formal debate among presidential candidates was planned. Instead, the ECZ is working to develop and disseminate profiles of the presidential candidates and their policies in the Zambian media. A Norwegian representative also announced that two more voter opinion polls (Ref C) would be released before the election: one was carried out during August and would be released very soon, and another would be conducted in September and released shortly before the election. No exit polls are planned, due to insufficient resources. ¶17. (SBU) Comment: At the conclusion of the meeting, foreign Mission representatives voiced appreciation and praise for the leadership of Justice Mambilima and the professionalism with which she and members of the ECZ carried out their duties. The ECZ has responded to stakeholder concerns thoroughly and comprehensively. The area where the ECZ still appears not to have much authority is in media coverage, which remains unbalanced. State print and electronic media also remains biased in favor of the ruling party, and there seems to be little that the ECZ can do to change this. PASSEN