ZAMBIA ELECTION DAY REPORT #2: STILL CALM AND SLOW

C O N F I D E N T I A L LUSAKA 001053 E.O. 12958: DECL: 10/30/2018 TAGS: PGOV ZA SUBJECT: ZAMBIA ELECTION DAY REPORT #2: STILL CALM AND SLOW REF: A. LUSAKA 1052 ¶B. LUSAKA 1050 ¶C. LUSAKA 1049 ¶D. LUSAKA 1048 AND PREVIOUS Classified By: DCM Michael Koplovsky, Reasons 1.4 (b) and (d) ¶1. (U) Voters continue to trickle in to polling stations throughout the afternoon, leading up to closing time at 6:00 pm. Embassy observer teams report calm and orderly voting, with issues being taken care of according to electoral rules and regulations. While there will probably be a surge of voters late in the afternoon, some polling station staff were pessimistic that they would see even 50 percent voter participation. ¶2. (U) The issue of replacement voter registration cards (reftel A) has gained some momentum as the opposition Patriotic Front (PF) alleges that many of the missing replacement cards are for voters in constituencies that are traditionally PF strongholds, including in the Copperbelt. The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is supposedly flying some of the cards up to the Copperbelt so that voters will be able to vote before the close of polls. ¶3. (C) Zambian Army Commander General Isaac Chisuzi was quoted in the Zambia Daily Mail on October 30 warning of stern action against those who might incite or participate in violence during the presidential election. "The Zambian Army will not allow any disturbances in the nation," the paper quoted Chisuzi as saying in a statement released to the press. The PF seized upon the statement as proof that the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) was attempting to rig the elections by intimidating voters. DAO and RSO did a windshield tour of military cantonments and police camps on October 30 and saw no signs of heightened alert or reinforced security. ¶4. (SBU) The ECZ has apparently reversed an earlier decision not to release any results until all 150 constituencies had reported. ECZ Chair Justice Florence Mumba announced on October 29 that the first announcement of interim results is expected by the morning of Friday, November 1. An ECZ source told Emboff that the Commission had come under pressure to release interim results from opposition parties who felt that the chances of rigging increased the longer results were held back. BOOTH