Thousands of people being trained as Poll assistants by the Electoral Commission of Zambia have been left to do a training on an empty stomach.The participants who have been training for three days were even at one time asked to write a test in the dark and the only source of the light being the torches from their phones.
ECZ is understandably a beneficiary of donor funding on election management. Part of the funds are meant to train and equip those conducting the polls.
What many participants are how ever not very clear with is whether this year, money was not released to manage such important task.
The ECZ had earlier reduced the allowance from K250 from Last year to K150 this year and up to now there have not indicated when they payments will be made
Efforts to get clarity from ECZ proved futile as the ECZ PR manager was not available by Press time