HUMAN Rights Commission Spokesperson Mweelwa Muleya says the Commission has received unverified reports of isolated cases of alleged electoral malpractices relating to unauthorized individuals found in possession of ballot papers.

And Muleya says the high voter turnout as demonstrated by long queues at various Polling Stations throughout the country is an impressive act of exercising the right to vote.

In a statement, Thursday, Muleya called for vigilance in protecting the integrity of the electoral process and the will of the electorate.

“The Commission is also receiving unverified reports of isolated cases of alleged electoral malpractices relating to unauthorized individuals found in possession of ballot papers. The Commission is calling for vigilance in protecting the integrity of the electoral process and the will of the electorate. However, the Commission is equally calling for restraint from false alarms and violation of the rights of suspects such as the right to life and property. On the other hand, those intending to engage or involve in electoral malpractices must refrain from any act aimed at undermining the will of the electorate to avoid endangering their lives and causing conflict and violence. The public mood is that of ensuring that the elections are peaceful, credible, free and fair and any act to the contrary must not be allowed,” he said.

Muleya further stated that the commission was encouraging that the majority of registered voters were committed to exercising their constitutional right to vote.

“The high voter turnout as demonstrated by long queues at various Polling Stations throughout the country is an impressive act of exercising the right to vote. The reports coming from the Commission District Monitors across the country indicate that voters have turned up in huge numbers to cast their votes. It is encouraging that the majority of registered voters are committed to exercising their constitutional and democratic right to vote. Further reports are also indicating that the voting process, though slow, is largely peaceful and orderly,” said Muleya.

“The Commission is calling on all the registered voters to bear with the slow voting process. The slow voting process could be a result of the quadral elections involving the Presidency, Members of Parliament, Council Chairpersons or Mayors and Councilors. The Commission is calling upon everyone to uphold the record of Zambia as a beacon of democracy by maintaining law and order during and after voting. Further, the Commission is appealing to those who are being discouraged by long queues and returning home to ensure that they return to the polling stations before close of the voting process at 18:00hrs today.”