Whether your fight is one for change or preservation, whether you wear the headgear of a graduate, copper miner, or market trader, whether you’re a retiree standing behind an eighteen-year-old boy voting for the first time, you will understand that August’s second Thursday of every election year is an endurance event. For those hours, you see patience begin to matter more than status.
Not many queues in Zambia inspire an equal measure of excitement, frustration and unexpected friendships quite like those curated by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), and braved by every adult citizen determined to exercise the power of democracy.
As our land of work and joy prepares to storm the polls, take this as a survival checklist to get you through that day, and make sure to share with the agogo next door, who may not have seen this article.
Check Your Voter Registration Before Election Day
Begin with the fundamental requirement of registration. Before you set out that morning, make sure you are registered and know exactly where your polling station is. Your voter's card will indicate your polling station. You can also verify your details using official ECZ voter information services.
In the excitement of it all, it becomes easy to misplace important documents such as your voter’s card and National Registration Card (NRC), so preemptively store them in an easily reachable place. Better yet, avoid carrying them unnecessarily in the days leading up to elections, to lessen the risk of losing them. Your voter’s card is your instrument in Zambia’s democratic symphony.
Arrive Early at Your Polling Station
Second, get ahead of “Zambian time". Getting there early could be the simple detail that smooths your entire experience. This would allow for a shorter wait and the completion of your civic duty before the afternoon's unforgiving heat takes up most of the conversation.
While cool August mornings may be better than the heat that the afternoon promises, shivering your way to the polls is a significantly less enjoyable way to do it. So carry something to keep you warm, be it a blanket, “bomba" or beanie. You can always remove layers as the temperature rises. The important thing is to be comfortable. Standing in a queue for hours is a good reminder that fashion, in fact, can’t beat weather.
How to Stay Comfortable During Long Queues
Another foe that queues bring you to face is back pain. If you can, if appropriate and practical, especially for older voters or people with health concerns, consider carrying a lightweight foldable stool. Be prepared to follow any instructions from polling officials regarding where personal items may be kept.
Queues like these can be particularly unpredictable. Depending on the turnout, you may spend more hours than you had planned to at the polling station. It’s a good idea to pack a few snacks to keep your energy up. Just a small fruit could go a long way. The goal is not abundance, but sustenance. So, maybe not nshima. Only pack what you can manage to carry.
Don’t forget your power bank! Beyond doomscrolling, your phone serves to communicate with your friends and family, arrange transport, and receive updates. A fully charged power bank will allow your phone to remain useful throughout the day. But do not let this keep you from interacting with the real people around you.
Shared excitement and frustration have a way of fostering friendships in the most unexpected places. Election queues can sometimes turn strangers into temporary neighbours. So while you’re there, say hello to a few people and hear about their frustrating morning, the exciting news they heard last week, or the unsolicited anecdote about what it was like to vote in 2006. If you need to temporarily exit the queue, ask your newfound friend to save you a spot, so you don’t fall back. These conversations may just remind you why we are “one Zambia, one nation".
Stay Safe and Follow ECZ Instructions
Through all this, remember to stay safe and alert. Keep your personal belongings close, and follow every instruction given to you by officials. In doing so, you allow for a peaceful voting experience for not only yourself, but other voters too.
Elections are not glamorous. They involve long queues, frustrating extremes of temperatures, and seemingly unending proceedings. This should serve to remind us that democracy is not about comfort; it’s about participation. So when August makes its entrance, you make the necessary preparations, you show up, and make your voice count!
