Zambian President Fredrick Chiluba said on Wednesday that international election observers were welcome to monitor the country's upcoming general elections, but warned that they should not interfere. Chiluba has yet to announce an election date.
"We will welcome observers and not discoverers. Zambia is already discovered," Chiluba was quoted as saying. "We need no wise men from the east or the west to tell us what system of government is suitable for Zambians."
A spokeswoman from the Zambian Electoral Institute told IRIN on Thursday that international observers had been invited and that they were expected to "follow certain rules and procedures". "The rules that they will be expected to follow are the same that any international observers follow when monitoring any election," she said.
The spokeswoman added that the preparation for the elections were "on schedule" and that the Commission "was prepared" for the upcoming polls. "The voter education exercise has been going very well and we have been working closely with local NGO's," she said.
The spokeswoman added that about 2.6 million people had been registered to take part in the elections, expected before the end of the year. The constitution outlaws Chiluba, who has ruled Zambia since 1991, from standing for a third term in the presidential poll.
This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions
