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The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has clarified that the apparent double announcement of Keembe East during the presidential results tally was a presentation error and did not result in the constituency’s votes being counted twice.
The clarification follows concerns raised on Sunday after Keembe East was read out twice during the ongoing announcement of results from the August 13 general election.
ECZ Chairperson, Mwangala Zaloumis, said although Commissioner Ndiyoi Mutiti mentioned Keembe East twice, the second announcement also contained results from Keembe West.
“We would like to clarify on the matter relating to Keembe East. It was read twice by Commissioner Mutiti, but that does not affect the consolidated results,” Zaloumis said.
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She said the figures incorporated into the national presidential tally had not been duplicated and that the total announced by the commission remained unchanged.
ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Brown Kasaro also explained that the second reference to Keembe East included the results for Keembe West.
The clarification came after the Tonse Voter Protection Team questioned the apparent repetition during the results announcement.
Team member, Kasonde Mwenda, said the group had observed that Keembe East, which had recorded 20,070 votes, appeared to have been announced and cumulatively computed twice.
“The ECZ is not giving us an opportunity to see the results before they are announced,” Mwenda said.
He called on the electoral body to immediately explain the discrepancy and correct any error identified in the tallying process.
“We are demanding, not asking, that ECZ addresses us right now and if they have to make a correction, they do it immediately,” he said.
The ECZ’s explanation sought to distinguish the verbal repetition of the constituency name from the actual figures incorporated into the consolidated presidential results.
The commission said the apparent duplication was, therefore, limited to the way the results were verbally presented and did not affect the national tally.
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