New braille ballot papers introduced

By SITEMBILE SIWAWA

ELECTORAL Commission of Zambia has introduced new features on braille ballot papers to address challenges encountered by the visually impaired voters in the previous elections.

Speaking during consultative workshop on the participation of persons with disabilities in the electoral process in Lusaka, ECZ official Mataa Sikota said the new features will enable blind voters to take part in the 2016 general elections effectively.

Mr Sikota said the old braille voting ballot papers had inadequacies as they would easily be shuffled making the visually impaired voters vote otherwise.

"The new braille voting ballot is intact and does not move easily and this will enable our blind voters to vote for their preferred candidate unlike the old one which could easily scuttle if not handled well and a voter could either vote otherwise or it will be a rejected ballot," he explained.

Mr Sikota said the new features will allow blind voters to make their own personal choices during voting without having anyone to vote for them.

"In the past during voting, there was an issue of mistrust as blind voters used to have someone vote for them," he said.

However, Mr Sikota said the Commission is facing challenges in the non-availability of persons to offer sign language interpretation for the deaf.

He also said literacy levels in sign language and braille are still some of the challenges the Commission is facing.

And Africa Programme Director Wamundila Waliuya has since commended the ECZ for adding new features to the braille voting ballot paper.

Mr Waliuya said the features will enhance full participation in elections and secrecy. He said, We are now assured of having full access to the ballot paper and our autonomy and dignity have been enhanced."

Meanwhile, Mr Waliuya has urged ECZ to consider executing the September 2011 Lusaka High Court judegment.

"There are a lot of lessons that ECZ can learn from the judgement which can be used in the by-elections and the 2016 general elections," Mr Waliuya advised.

Zambia Federation of Disability Organisations (ZAFOD) sued ECZ in 2011 for failure to initiate reform to ensure equitable participation by persons with disabilities in the electoral process of Zambia contrary to Article 23 of the Constitution of Zambia.