Watch out for hackers, ECZ told
THE Electoral Commission Of Zambia (ECZ) should put in protective measures that will deter unscrupulous individuals from hacking into the system once the online voter registration is launched, Governance, Elections, Advocacy and Research Services |(GEAR) Executive Director McDonald Chipenzi has advised.
Mr Chipenzi was reacting to ECZ’s statement that it will start implementing the online voter registration exercise next year. He said in as much as the initiative by the ECZ to use technology was a welcome move, there was need to put in place measures that will protect the electoral system in an event of technological failure or hackers. ECZ Public Relations Manager Margaret Chimanse said the implementation of the exercise will start after the 2019 delimitation exercise. She said the decision to implement the online voter registration exercise was reached after a stakeholders’ meeting that included several political parties. Meanwhile, Mr Chipenzi said the use of advanced technology in the delivery of electoral services will increase efficiency and make the delivery of results faster and easier. “The only thing the commission should do is put in all the measures to deter unscrupulous individual from hacking into the system and ensure that there is transparency and accountability with the process,” he said. Mr Chipenzi however, said there was need for capacity building in the electoral system in line with the new technological advances for it to operate efficiently and meet the needs of all stakeholders. He observed that it was about time that Zambia adapted to online voter registration, because even if the commission was to wait next year other people would still be oppose to it.