Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06LUSAKA1349
2006-10-02 04:59:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Lusaka
Cable title:  

Zambia Election Observers' Observations

Tags:  PGOV ZA 
pdf how-to read a cable
VZCZCXRO6109
RR RUEHDU RUEHJO RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHLS #1349/01 2750459
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
R 020459Z OCT 06
FM AMEMBASSY LUSAKA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 3254
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LUSAKA 001349 

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: Zambia Election Observers' Observations

Ref: A. Lusaka 1340 B. Lusaka 1334

Summary
-----------

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 LUSAKA 001349

SIPDIS

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PGOV ZA
SUBJECT: Zambia Election Observers' Observations

Ref: A. Lusaka 1340 B. Lusaka 1334

Summary
--------------


1. (SBU) Zambia's September 28 tripartite elections were generally
conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner, in the view of Embassy
observer teams, which coordinated with observers from six other
missions to observe the vote in 342 polling stations in eight of
Zambia's nine provinces. Observers did not witness or hear of any
violence associated with the vote and all reported that polling went
smoothly, despite long queues early in the day due to high voter
turnout, estimated at between 70 and 80 percent. The Electoral
Commission of Zambia (ECZ) appeared to be well prepared for the
vote. Almost all polling stations were fully staffed and supplied
with all required materials at the open of voting, though some
stations opened late - usually not more than 30-60 minutes. The EU
International Observer Mission to Zambia also concluded that the
"elections have so far been conducted peacefully and have been
managed by the ECZ in a largely professional manner." Despite the
apparent success of the vote, it is likely that losing political
parties will question the results of what may be a close election,
fueling the lingering skepticism with which many Zambians view the
electoral process.

Embassy Observer Teams
--------------


2. (SBU) On September 28, Embassy deployed 13 teams, comprised of
American and Zambian personnel, including Ambassador, to observe
Zambia's tripartite elections. Embassy observation teams
coordinated with 21 other observer teams consisting of staff members
of six other missions (Canada, France, Japan, the Netherlands,
Norway and the United Kingdom) to observe the vote in eight of
Zambia's nine provinces. The Embassy observer teams visited 172
polling stations in seven of Zambia's nine provinces. Together with
the teams from other missions, a total of 342 polling stations were
observed in eight provinces. All the observer teams used uniform
checklists to record their findings, summarized below.

Orderly and Peaceful Vote
--------------


3. (SBU) All observer reports indicated that the elections were
generally conducted in an orderly and peaceful manner. No violence
was reported in any of the polling stations observed. Voter turnout
was estimated at between 70 and 80 percent of registered voters at
most polling stations and most voters arrived at the polls early,

leading to long queues in the morning hours. In a number of larger
stations, alphabetically-divided polling "streams," which were used
for the first time in this election, were not properly signposted or
organized, leading to substantial voter confusion. Some teams
reported waiting times at individual stations of between three and
five hours. However, by noon waiting times at many polling stations
had been substantially reduced.

No Undue Influence
--------------


4. (SBU) The observer teams assessed the polling as free from
intimidation or undue influence. Observers saw no signs of
campaigning in the vicinity of 95 percent of the polling stations
observed. Police officers were deployed at all of the polling
stations observed and their behavior was rated as appropriate on 99
percent of the checklists submitted. A few teams observed that the
secrecy of ballots was not always maintained as voters did not fold
their marked ballot papers before casting them.

Supply Problems
--------------


5. (SBU) Polling stations were well-staffed and monitored but more
than half (51 percent) of those observed opened late, usually due to
the late arrival of supplies. After opening, observed polling
stations were stocked with necessary materials and ballot papers in
nearly all cases. Every polling station observed had copies of the
appropriate voters register and 99.7 percent had ballot papers.
These items were delivered before the opening of polls at 94 percent
of polling stations visited.


6. (SBU) Some polling stations did not have the required official
stamps, delaying the start of voting. Ink pens to mark voters'
thumbs in some cases dried out quickly. In cases where material was
missing or inadequate, teams noted that presiding officers often
improvised with the approval of party agents and NGO monitors
present. In one case a presiding officer appeared to have
overstepped the boundaries of improvisation by having voters sign on
the back of the ballot in replacement of the (unavailable) official
mark, thereby undermining the secrecy of the vote.

Polling Stations Staffed and Monitored

LUSAKA 00001349 002 OF 003


--------------


7. (SBU) All required Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) staff
were present at 99 percent of polling stations observed.
Representatives of political parties that fielded candidates were
also present 99 percent of the polling stations observed. Civil
society and non-governmental organization election monitors were
found in 92 percent of the polling stations observed.

A Few Voters Turned Away
--------------


8. (SBU) A number of the observer teams reported that some voters
who were in possession of the required voters cards and national
registration cards were not allowed to vote because their names were
not on the voters register. The Chief Electoral Officer in Kitwe in
Copperbelt told Poloff that he was aware of eleven voters who had
been turned away in two Kitwe constituencies. The official had been
able to resolve three of the cases and the voters were allowed to
cast ballots. Beyond anecdotal evidence, however, observers were
not able to get a clear sense of the number of voters turned away at
the polls, although it is believed to be small. Polls closed on
time at 75 percent of the polling stations observed and no person
waiting to vote at the time polls closed was turned away.

Counting of Ballots
--------------


9. (SBU) Teams noted that, in some cases, presiding officers seemed
unsure of the counting procedures, which were not were not followed
in 12 percent of the poling stations observed. Presiding officers
reconciled the numbers of used and unused ballot papers in only 85
percent of the poll closures observed. In addition, teams reported
that in some cases used (counted) ballots were sealed by stream,
rather than by polling station, and that the "pre-printed envelopes"
and envelope seals were not used.


10. (SBU) Lighting for the counting of votes was also a problem,
particularly in rural and peri-urban areas. Often only one
ECZ-issued, battery powered lantern was available in order to light
a whole room and this light was sometimes not functioning.
Candidates, party agents and NGO monitors in a number of polling
stations (17 percent) did not sign the final result forms, sometimes
because they had fallen asleep during counting. Overall teams were
not convinced that party agents or NGO monitors had a clear sense of
the prescribed counting procedures. Objections were raised only in
a very limited number of cases.


European Union Observer Mission
--------------


11. (SBU) In a September 30 briefing, EU Election Observation
Mission Chief Observer Annemie Neyts assessed that the September 28
elections "have so far been conducted peacefully and have been
managed by the ECZ in a largely professional manner." Neyts said
that EU observers visited a total of 790 polling stations on
Election Day and concluded that, despite delays in the start of
voting in some areas due to the late arrival of essential election
material, Election Day had gone well. The vote was conducted in a
calm and orderly environment, Neyts observed, noting that ECZ
polling staff followed procedures well and that party agents and
domestic monitors were present in most polling stations observed.
The counting of votes was also conducted transparently although the
counting procedures were unwieldy and complicated, she said.


12. (SBU) Noting that long-term EU observers had arrived in Zambia
on September 5, Neyts complimented the ECZ on its work in the lead
up to the vote. The "preparations for the elections were managed in
a largely professional and transparent manner, she said, adding that
the independence of the ECZ "added to the public confidence in the
process, and it was perceived to be a credible and effective
institution." Neyts also credited the ECZ voter education program,
which she said "clearly enjoyed significant investment in resources
and planning," although the education activities "did not always
reach the most remote areas of the country." Civil society
organizations, which engaged in election monitoring, voter education
programs and facilitated public debates between candidates, also
played an "important and positive role during the elections."


13. (SBU) Neyts noted several areas of concern. With regard to the
electoral law, she said that although the "legal framework provided
for the conduct of democratic elections ... the ECZ did not always
adopt timely and clear administrative procedures to facilitate its
organization of the elections, sometimes resulting in unnecessary
confusion." Neyts praised the campaign period before the elections,
saying that campaigning was peaceful and freedom of assembly was
largely respected; however she noted that the "lack of transparency
and accountability in campaign spending, as well as the advantage of
incumbency, resulted in an uneven playing field for candidates and
parties." Neyts also criticized the Zambia National Broadcasting

LUSAKA 00001349 003 OF 003


Company (ZNBC) noting that "both in its television and radio
services ZNBC failed to provide balance between candidates in key
areas such as news and there was strong bias in favor of the
(ruling) Movement for Multi-party Democracy (MMD).

Comment
--------------


14. (SBU) It is too early to conclude that the September 28
elections were free, fair and reflected the will of the people,
particularly as the ECZ in Lusaka has yet to receive results from
many constituencies, especially those in remote rural areas. At
this stage in the process, observers can only confirm that Election
Day was peaceful and that the vote itself was conducted in an
efficient and transparent manner. The apparent success of Election
Day procedures should go a long way towards inspiring confidence in
the electorate, whatever the outcome of the vote; however, Zambians
remain highly suspicious of the electoral process in the wake of the
many irregularities documented in the 2001 elections. Despite the
apparent success of the vote, it is likely that political parties
will question the results of what may be a close election, fueling
the lingering skepticism with which many Zambians view the electoral
process.
MARTINEZ