No, ECZ not responsible for the absence of UPND representatives in Dubai to observe ballot printing

Rating Justification

The Fact Checking process determined as false the claim that the UPND representative Mr. Njolomba’s failure to obtain a visa was because of the ECZ, part of “…a deliberate ploy by the officers in the offices that are controlling the process”. The fact checking process corroborated evidence from different actors involved in the matter, and determined that Mr Njolomba’s Visa could not be approved due to the failure to provide a travel Covid19 clearance certificate. On the 16th June 2021, The ECZ made a publication on the monitoring of printing of ballot papers by stakeholders for the 2021 General Elections, giving guidance on the requirements to be met by representatives from political parties to secure their travel. The statement clarified that the Commission does not facilitate travelling documents, and that representatives needed to obtain a Covid 19 clearance certificate from approved medical institutions at least 48hrs before travel. This is in accordance to the suspension of travelers from Zambia as part of efforts to contain the spread of Coronavirus by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). On the 5th July 2021, the ECZ issued a media statement announcing the commencement of ballot printing. In the same announcement the ECZ revealed that only the Patriotic Front (PF) had managed to send a representative as other political parties were expected to join the team.