CANCELLATION OF TENDER FOR PRINTING BALLOTS SMELLS CORRUPTION - KALABA

THE UPND has continued the cancellation of tenders even after a transparent and successful bidding process on account that some of the bidders are wrongly being perceived to be aligned to the Patriotic Front (PF), Harry Kalaba has revealed.

Mr Kalaba, the leader of the Citizens First (CF) says he is deeply concerned that most large public tenders have continued to be cancelled even after a successful bidding process.

He said more often than not, the tenders were being cancelled because some bidders were wrongly being accused and perceived of being aligned with the former ruling party, the Patriotic Front.

Mr Kalaba said the cancellation of the tender to print ballot papers and other election materials byGgovernment had sparked fears that the UPND government was preparing to manipulate and rig the 2026 general elections.

“We have observed this in the procurement of fertiliser, oil, and medical supplies and the latest has been the cancellation of a tender to print ballot paper papers.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia on Monday informed stakeholders and members of the public that due to significant changes in the bidding conditions and conditions of contract in the issued solicitation contract, they had cancelled the tender for the printing and delivery of ballot papers, ballot paper posters, blind voter templates, and announcement forms,” Mr Kalaba said.

Mr Kalaba, who is also a member of the United Kwacha Alliance said his advice to the ECZ was to be transparent in the manner they were handling the tender process of printing ballot papers because elections were a sensitive issue that needed to be handled carefully.

He said it was his hope that Government was not intending to single-source the printing of ballot papers and other election materials as had been the tradition in the last two and half years of the UPND in government.