ECZ, the X, and the Eleventh-Hour Changes.

ECZ, the X, and the Eleventh-Hour Changes.

By Linda Banks

At this stage of the electoral process, Zambians deserve clarity, consistency and confidence not last minute surprises.

So, some very simple questions need to be asked.

Why is the Electoral Commission of Zambia changing the rules of engagement at the eleventh hour? And more importantly, why are such changes being made without meaningful consultation with the stakeholders who will ultimately have to live with the consequences

For years, Zambians have known the ballot paper make your mark in the box of your preferred candidate. Now we are being told that the X is no longer the standard and that voters should make tick ✅ mark as well. Why didn’t they sensitise citizens earlier?

But why fix something that was not broken?

An election is not the place for casual last-minute adjustments. Electoral procedures must be predictable. They must be understood by voters, political parties and election monitors well before election day not changed when everyone is already at the starting line.

And where is the opposition?

If Tonse Alliance genuinely believes these changes are unlawful, unreasonable or capable of compromising the integrity of the election, why are they not challenging ECZ in court?

Take ECZ to court on Monday.

Not tomorrow. Not after the election. Not when the results are already being announced.

There is another serious concern the proposed announcement of block figures on August 17.

Once figures are aggregated and announced in blocks, challenging any anomaly becomes considerably more difficult. The more detailed the results trail, the easier it is for political parties, observers and citizens to identify where something does not add up. Transparency is not merely about announcing a final number it is about allowing people to follow the numbers from the polling station upwards.

And let us be brutally honest trust is already the elephant in the room. ECZ cannot simply demand public confidence. It has to earn it through consistency, transparency and procedures that are seen to be fair by everyone.

This is not about Tonse, UPND, PF or whoever is ahead in the polls.

It is about the integrity of the referee.

When the rules change at the last minute, people naturally ask Why now? Who benefits? And what problem are we actually solving?

So, Tonse Alliance, if you believe ECZ has crossed the line, do not just complain online or at press conferences. Go to court!

Sue ECZ on Monday.

Ask the court to compel a return to the established procedures that Zambians and political parties have used for years including the familiar X.

Because in an election, even small changes can have very big consequences.

No shortcuts,no surprises, no promises to sort things out later. And why is the president going back  to constituencies he’s just been? What changes would have occurred to his message just days of having been there? Some stakeholders are concerned that these trips may allegedly be facilitating illegalities such as staffing of ballot papers.

Let the rules be clear, let the process be transparent. And let the people’s vote be protected from the ballot box all the way to the final tally.