Zambia's electoral body denies awarding Dubai firm ballot printing deal

Zambia's electoral body on Tuesday denied reports that it had awarded a Dubai-based firm a contract to print the ballot papers for this year's general elections.

Some local media earlier reported the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) had proposed to award a tender for the printing of the ballot papers to the Alghurair Printing and Publishing LLC.

However, Cris Akufuna, ECZ's public relations manager, said the electoral body had not announced the printer of the ballot papers and the procurement process was still underway.

The electoral body has placed a notice showing "successful bidders" following the conclusion of the bid examination process.

Akufuna said the placing of the notice was in accordance with the public procurement law.

"It is part of the process for all the bidders and no one has been picked yet," he said.

Zambians will go to the polls on August 11 to elect a president, lawmakers and local government leaders.

Source: XINHUA