‘BALLOT PRINTING TENDER WAS TRANSPARENT’
THE tender for printing of ballot papers for 2021 general elections was conducted through a transparent process, Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) Director Patrick Nshindano has said.
Mr Nshindano said the awarding of contract to a firm in Dubai was done in accordance with the provisions of procurement Act.
He was speaking in an interview with the Daily Nation in Chilubi.
Mr Nshindano said ECZ invited public bids and all interested suppliers both local and international applied including Government Printing Department.
“The tendering process for printing of ballot papers for 2020 was done in an extremely transparent manner. We called for bids in both electronic and print media and the advert run for two months,” Mr Nshindano said.
He said some people could not have been aware of the advert for printing of ballot papers due to lack of interest in the electoral processes.
He said his organisation further announced the opening of the tenders and members of the public were invited to witness the process.
Mr Nshindano explained that the ECZ received two objections after the announcement of the preferred bidder and the matter is currently at Zambia Public Procurement Agency (ZPPA) for determination.
ECZ, he said, would only ago ahead with awarding of tender after ZPPA was satisfied with the manner tendering process was handled.
“It was extremely transparent and the fact that people are talking about it even before we conclude the award the contract indicates that the process was transparent,” Mr Nshindano said.