ECZ re-advertises tender for printing of ballots
THE Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has reissued the tender for printing and delivering of ballot papers.
“The Electoral Commission of Zambia wishes to notify stakeholders and public that the Commission yesterday (Monday) May 6, 2024, reissued the tender for the printing and delivery of various electoral materials.
These materials include ballot papers, ballot paper posters, blind voter templates, announcement forms, voter’s list and register of voters,” ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said.
Mr Kasaro said this tender is for a three-year contract to carter for the by-elections and the 2026 general elections.
He said the reissuance follows the cancellation of the aforementioned tender in March, 2024 due to significant changes in the bidding conditions and conditions of contract contained in the issued solicitation document.
“This tender is open to all eligible bidders, both local and international, and will be administered following the rules under open international competitive bidding procedures as provided for in the Zambia Public Procurement Act No.8 of 2020and Public Procurement Regulations, 2022,” he said.
And Citizens First president Harry Kalaba said stakeholders in the electoral process, expects ECZ to ensure there is transparency in all the tendering processes and that only capable bidders are awarded the contract to print ballot papers and other electoral materials.
He said the UPND government is known to award contracts to questionable companies who in most cases do not meet the criteria.
“We reiterate that elections play a crucial part in the democratic dispensation of the country and we urge the ECZ to be cautious in the manner they handle elections to avoid triggering emotions among the citizens.
We have seen how the ECZ has been used to bar certain political parties from participating in by-elections by rejecting candidates and we hope this questionable conduct will not be extended into the 2026 General Elections,” he said.