By SIMON MUNTMBA
THE commission is not responsible in any way for alleged fraudulent issuance of voters’ cards to ineligible people because it has no powers to probe holders of National Registration Cards (NRCs), Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) corporate affairs manager Patricia Luhanga has said.
In an interview, Ms Luhanga said the pre-requisite to obtaining a voter’s card was an NRC which is issued through the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship, under the Ministry of Home Affairs.
She explained that the commission has no powers to start questioning individuals how they obtained NRCs and how old they are when issuing them with voter’s cards.
“The pre requisite to obtaining a voter’s card is an NRC and it is outside our jurisdiction to probe NRC holders. As long as the years on an NRC corresponds with the age to vote, the commission will give you the voter’s card because you qualify,” Ms Luhanga said.
She said just as it was not the mandate of ECZ to look at the qualification of the candidate during the general elections, it had absolutely nothing to do with how NRCs were issued to alleged unqualified individuals because that was the job of the Department of National Registration, Passport and Citizenship.
Her remarks follows allegations that the PF regime issued NRCs to more than 1, 000 under age children ranging between five and 15 years who subsequently obtained voter’s cards in the Eastern province.
On Thursday last week, Police in Petauke arrested and charged former District Commissioner Ms Moyo aged 44 of Plot No. 1 Mayadi area and Mr Lungu aged 50 of Nyansimbo Village Chief Mwanjawantu for alleged abuse of authority of office and for intent to deceive, respectively.
A statement by police spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed that the duo were charged and arrested at Petauke police station for allegedly having aided more than 1, 000 under age children ranging between five and 15 years to obtain NRCS, and subsequently obtained voter’s cards.
