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Dr Lemba denounces ECZ results map as propaganda

Dr Lemba denounces ECZ results map as propaganda
Written by Chiwoyu Sinyangwe
Thursday, November 20, 2008 7:28:35 AM

CONTINUED publication of the map of election results by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is a propaganda ploy meant to sway statistically naïve citizens, University of Zambia (UNZA) senior demography lecturer Dr Musonda Lemba has observed.

Commenting on the continued distribution of the map by ECZ, which indicates the results of last month's presidential election, Dr Lemba explained that emphasis should have been placed on population distribution as opposed to the geographic magnitude of certain regions.

Dr Lemba cited Copperbelt and Lusaka provinces, which were very geographically small but constituted about 30 per cent of the entire country's population.

He based his explanation on the 2000 national census, which indicated that Copperbelt had the highest population at 16 per cent followed by Lusaka and Eastern provinces at 13.2.

This was followed by Northern Province at 12.7 per cent, Southern Province at 12.3, Central Province at 10.2 and Luapula at 7.8 while Western and North-Western provinces had 7.7 and 5.9 per cent each respectively.

"If you look at the statistics of the 2000 national census, it clearly shows that the concentration of the population densities does not correspond with the geographic size of those areas," explained Dr Lemba who is also a Social Science consultant. "The population concentrations directly correspond with the total number of voters in the areas because population density of the areas directly reflects the number of registered voters. So, it is about the population density and not the geographical size. If you look at these vast areas like Western Province and North-Western, they are sparsely populated. But can you compare the results to Copperbelt and Lusaka basing it on geographical size on that basis?"

Dr Lemba, who also advised ECZ to employ a demography consultant or statistician if they did not have one, said the accurate map should have been based on pattern for the number of registered voters and population distribution.

He also described the ECZ map as childish and that there was need for the country's election body to rise above partisan politics.

"ECZ should be above propaganda and conduct itself as a professional outfit," said Dr Lemba. "The danger is that for people who are illiterate and statically naïve, the ECZ map can easily sway them to believe that MMD had swept the country. So the publication of this map is very misleading and is meant to hoodwink the public who can't interpret it correctly, but I really don't know their motive."

But when contacted for comment, ECZ director Dan Kalale refused to talk to The Post and hang up the phone.

Yesterday, former Livingstone mayor Margaret Whitehead observed that the map of the election results supplied by ECZ gave a flawed picture of the real outcome of last month's presidential elections.

Whitehead explained that the map ECZ supplied gave some idea of the popularity of various political parties in the constituencies but that it only showed which candidate got the majority of votes in each constituency without showing the respective number of votes.

Labels: ECZ, MUSONDA LEMBA, UNZA

posted by MrK @ 7:31 AM