Low voter turnout Pathetic- Lungu

Voting is underway in the Lusaka’s mayoral by-election which has been characterized by a low voter turnout.
Voting is also taking place in Chilanga and six newly created districts namely Chasefu,Chipangali,Kasenengwa,Lumezi and Chifunabuli where people are voting for the council chairpersons.
And President Edgar Lungu has described as pathetic the low voter turnout in Lusaka.
Speaking after casting his vote this morning at Andrew Mwenya polling station in John Howard in Chawama constituency, President Lungu who was accompanied by First Lady Esther Lungu said he expected a lot of people to turn up in large numbers to vote especially that it’s a holiday.
President Lungu has since encouraged citizens to exercise their right to vote by voting for their preferred candidates.
And most people talked by a QTV news crew have attributed the low voter turnout to incidences of political violence that have characterized recent elections.
A check at Ngwerere school polling station in Mandevu constituency and Northmead secondary school polling station in Lusaka central constituency found a poor voter turnout with only a few people having voted by 11:00 hours.
Voting at most polling stations visited was however, going on peacefully.
Some voters talked encouraged fellow registered voters to turn up and vote for their preferred candidates.
Meanwhile some voters have expressed concern over the poor quality of ink that is being used on their thumps after voting.
The ink is said not be very visible after being applied while in some instances it’s only showing after more than two hours.
The voters are concerned that the poor ink quality can result in one voting more than once, urging the need for the ECZ to look into the matter.
And a presiding officer talked to at one of the polling stations who sort anonymity said they had to change the ink because it was not showing.
The Mayoral seat is being contested by nine candidates namely Miles Sampa of the ruling PF, Kangwa Chileshe of UPND, Leslie Chikuse of RPP, Saviour Chishimba of UPP, Saboi Imboela of NDC, Mukubesa of PAC, UNIP’s Alfred Banda, Bwalya Nonde of NAREP and Madalitso Musukwa of UPPZ.