Zambia Unveils Its 2016 Election Results Center

Entrance to the Election Results Center -Picture by Mwebantu

By Paul Shalala

With two days before Zambians vote in a general election and a referendum, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has unveiled the Election Results Center which will be based at the Mulungushi International Conference Center in Lusaka.

The center, which is heavily guarded due to the usual tension that characterises polls, is accessible to all participating political parties, the media and election observers.

After the close of polling on Thursday evening, focus will shift from the polling stations to the Election Results Center where ECZ Chairperson Esau Chulu will be announcing periodic results as they trickle in from the 156 constituencies.

Justice Chulu is expected to be announcing results for the presidential and referendum.

This is because results for the Members of Parliament, Mayor, Council Chairmen and Councillors will be announced in the respective constituencies and districts.

Meanwhile, President Lungu has today met some of the international observers who are in the country to monitor the polls.

According to a statement issued by Presidential Press Aide Amos Chanda, President Lungu met former Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan who is leading the African Union Observer Mission, former Mauritian President Cassam Uteem who is leading the Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa and former Italian Minister of Integration Cecile Kyenge who is leading the European Union Observer Mission.

Mr Chanda has stated that the three, together with Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari’s Special Envoy on Political Dialogue Ibrahim Gambari met the head of state at State House this morning.

“His Excellency Goodluck Jonathan expressed full confidence that the elections which will be held this Thursday on 11^th August, 2016 will be free and fair and that Zambia will maintain its highly reputable brand as a viable democracy. Mr. Jonathan urged all political parties taking part in the elections to accept the outcome,” said Mr Chanda.

An aerial view of the Election Results Center

“The Head of State also held an open and frank conversation with EU observers led by Hon. Kyenge. The President assured EU observers that the opposition were free to campaign anywhere they wanted, and that access to the media was a matter for independent media boards and editorial teams.”

Meanwhile, the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) has urged Zambians to turn out enmass and vote for their preferred candidates on Thursday.  

In its pre-election statement, FODEP has urged all stakeholders to accept the results of the election and embrace peace after the results are announced.

The local organisation has deployed 5,090 monitors in 98 of the 156 constituencies to monitor the Thursday polls.

Doctors Recommend President Lungu To Undergo Treatment Abroad

President Lungu and First Lady Esther at Maina Soko Hospital

 Lusaka, (Monday, 9th March 2015, 11:20AM) — The Medical Team attending to His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia has
explored options of correcting the narrowing of the food pipe that led to the
illness of the President on Sunday March, 8 2015. 

Doctors have recommended that President Lungu undergoes a high-tech
medical procedure which is currently unavailable in Zambia and therefore he
has been referred for specialised treatment abroad.

As announced in our earlier Bulletin this morning, President Lungu has a history
Achalasia (the condition of the narrowing of the food pipe.) This condition
was corrected 30 years ago at the University Teaching Hospital and appears
to have recurred.

A team of senior doctors comprising physicians, surgeons, pathologists, and
radiologists, reviewed these findings and recommended immediate
correction of this condition.

This statement has been authorized by Dr. Dorothy Kasonde and Dr. Dave
Kishore on behalf the doctors attending to President Lungu.

Issued By:
Amos Chanda
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT (PRESS AND PUBLIC RELATIONS)

Doctors Reveal Recurrence Of Low Sugar In Zambia's President

President Edgar Lungu

By Paul Shalala

Doctors attending to Zambia's President Edgar Lungu have revealed that the head of state may have suffered low sugar yesterday leading to his withdrawal from the International Women's Day celebrations at the Heroes National Stadium in Lusaka.

According to a medical bulletin issued at 01:00hrs this morning by President Lungu's press aide Amos Chanda, the head of state has a history of the narrowing of the food pipe which was corrected 30 years ago.

The next medical bulletin is scheduled to be issued after 10:00hrs today.

Below is the full press statement:

MEDICAL BULLETIN ON PRESIDENT LUNGU’S CONDITION: 01:10am ZAMBIAN TIME

Lusaka, (Monday, 9th March 2015) — His Excellency Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of the Republic of Zambia fell ill today while officiating at the Women’s Day celebrations.

At Heroes Stadium, the presumptive diagnosis revealed traces of malaria and low blood sugar level. During his observation and treatment the low sugar level was corrected and the President was able to address the parade on the podium at Heroes Stadium. The President was later taken to Maina Soko Military Hospital for medical tests and observation.

Medical tests carried so far ruled out full malaria infection.

The Nation may wish to know that President Lungu has a history of the narrowing of the food pipe (medically known as achalasia), which was corrected 30 years ago at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH).

The tests have revealed that this condition may have recurred and could have led to the low sugar condition the President experienced during the Women’s Day event.

A team of senior doctors comprising physicians, surgeons, pathologists, and radiologists, reviewed these findings and recommended immediate correction of this condition.

The President is in good condition and the nation shall be informed on further developments. I will return to issue a second Medical Bulletin at 10:30 am Zambian time on Monday, March 9,2015, at State House in the Briefing Room.

This statement has been authorized by Dr. Dorothy Kasonde and Dr. Dave Kishore on behalf the doctors attending to President Lungu.

Issued By:
Amos Chanda
SPECIAL ASSISTANT TO THE PRESIDENT (PRESS & PUBLIC RELATIONS)

President Lungu Heads To Zimbabwe For Courtesy Call On Mugabe

By Paul Shalala in Johannesburg, South Africa

President Lungu and his Deputy Inonge Wina

President Edgar Lungu is this morning expected to leave for Zimbabwe to pay a courtesy call on that country's President Robert Mugabe.

According to a statement issued by President Lungu's Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda, the Zambian leader is on a one day visit to meet Mr Mugabe who doubles as African Union and SADC Chairperson.

"President Lungu has delegated his authority to Her Honour Mrs. Inonge Wina, Vice-President of the Republic of Zambia to discharge functions of the office of President from 6^th February 2015 till his return from Zimbabwe. The delegation of power is pursuant to Article 39 of the Constitution of Zambia," read the emailed statement.

President Lungu was until this morning on a working holiday in the tourist resort of Mfuwe and he is expected to continue with the holiday upon return from Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the head of state has made the following appointments in the foreign service:

Mr. Humphrey Chibanda: Ambassador-Designate to France (Chief of State Protocol, Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba: Ambassador-Designate to Malaysia (former Information Permanent Secretary) 

Dr. Solomon Jere: High Commissioner-Designate to Nigeria (former Deputy Inspector-General of Police)

Mrs. Brenda Muntemba-Sichilemba: High Commissioner-Designate to Kenya (former Commissioner of Police)

"The President has emphasised that he was in a hurry to reposition Zambia in international affairs and he therefore expects robust performance from all Zambian envoys serving abroad."

“I expect very high performance from all those serving in the Foreign Service and will not tolerate misconduct and laziness from anyone. We are in hurry to deliver,” read the statement in part.