The Zambian government plans to introduce electronic voting (e-voting) system in next year's presidential and general elections.

Zambian president Edgar Lungu said, however, that there is need to educate people on the importance of e-voting system to avoid conflict with stakeholders as government considers upgrading its voting method.

The Zambian president said they are already in discussion with funding agencies regarding e-voting in the Southern African country, but added that stakeholders had to agree on the system before it is introduced.

Lungu said Zambia wants to follow in the footsteps of Namibia, one of the first African countries to have successfully used the e-voting system in elections held last year.

During Zambia's January 2015 presidential by-election, the country's stakeholders (including the largest opposition political party the United Party for National Development) rejected the use of mobile phones in transmitting election results. They claimed the system would be hacked and results manipulated in favour of the ruling party.

However, stakeholders have, so far, welcomed Lungu's plan to introduce e-voting during the 2016 general elections.

The Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) is believed to be happy with the plan but has voiced its concern over the system, particularly those who would be tasked with running it.

FODEP executive director McDonald Chipenzi said, "the Electoral Commission of Zambia ought have competent people to manage the system so as not to raise serious issues against them".

Zambia will go to the polls next year to elect a new president and lawmakers.