Zambia Election Observers' Observations

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