NKOMBO’s BEHAVIOUR IRKs ECZ COMMISSIONERS
UPND chairman for elections Garry Nkombo this evening upset ECZ commissioners when he ordered them to be more thorough in their compilation of votes.
Meanwhile UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema has continued to lead in the consolidated presidential results for 62 constituencies announced so far with
1,024,212
The altercation between NKombo and commissioners arose when Nkombo mockingly acknowledged that ECZ had made corrections on the results for Mazabuka Central as the commission announced it’s third set of results.
Nkombo who had kept interjecting the ECZ chairman towards the end of his presentation, said when he was finally given audience that his party had acknowledged that ECZ had allocated back the over 300 votes to Hichilema’s name, that was wrongly added to PAC president Andyford Banda in one of the polling stations under Mazabuka Central.
Nkombo noted that although that was the case, the total tally for Mazabuka Central Constituency was still indicating that Hichilema’s votes fell short by about 20 votes.
He also observed that votes wrongly allocated to Andyford Banda’s name, had not been withdrawn despite the commission giving Hichilema some of his votes back.
Garry said he would allow the commissioners to say their ‘good nights’ but that he hoped that ECZ would address the matter before the next update.
He also called upon ECZ to be more thorough, a comment that did not auger well with ECZ commissioners especially deputy chairperson Dr Emily Sikazwe.
The patient Dr Sikazwe, then sought leave from the ECZ chairman Justice Esau Chulu to address Nkombo.
Dr Sikazwe asked Nkombo to stop playing to the gallery whenever he had concerns over the results that were been announced because ECZ was open to discuss any concerns by electoral stakeholders away from the media.
She made reference to an an incident were Nkombo had addressed a briefing outside the result centre to complain about the case involving results for Mazabuka Central before the commission could finish deliberating on the matter.
Dr Sikazwe said ECZ officers had alot work on their hands and it was important that concerns brought to the commission by stakeholders are handled speedily.
Nkombo however continually interjected Dr Sikazwe , saying he took great exception to the advise by Dr Sikazwe.
This led to a continued exchange of words between the two forcing the ECZ chair to abruptly adjourn the meeting.
Earlier Chief electoral officer Patrick Nshindano said the country was politically charged and that Nkombo must endaveaur to avoid running to the media and handle arising electoral concerns with caution.
But Garry maintained that his concerns were of public nature and that he did not see anything wrong with consulting the public through the media before concluding with ECZ.
Meanwhile Hichilema has continued to lead according to the latest results announced ECZ.
President Edgar Lungu is still trailing behind with 562,523 votes.
Currently a total number 94 constituencies remains to be announced before the winner of Thursdays polls is declared.
Justice Chulu has announced that the next update will be given tomorrow at 12:00hours.
