THE agreement signed between Zambia and her bilateral and multilateral partners to the tune of US$14.56 million (K70 billion) to strengthen the electoral process could not have come at a better time than now.

With the country preparing to go for presidential and general elections in less than two years, the gesture will go a long way in augmenting Government efforts in ensuring good election management and preparation.

It should also calm the nerves of those who have raised disquiet over the electoral system and in particular the current voter registration exercise as the agreement provides for continuous registration for the next four years.

This development will not only ensure maximum participation of citizens in the democratic process, but also make election preparation less ad hoc and more predictable in 2011 and beyond.

Processes such as voter registration will no longer be election-driven but will be as normal a process as obtaining a national registration card upon attainment of the statutory age of 16.

The fact that the cooperating partners who include United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Canada, Finland, Netherlands, United Kingdom and the European Union (EU) have chosen to provide assistance well ahead of the next elections means that Zambia's partners have confidence in the country's democratic process.

There is still a lot more to be done.

The onus now lies on the Zambians themselves to build and believe in strong democratic structures that will guarantee an all-inclusive participation of citizens.

Representatives of political parties and Zambian citizens at large must take it upon themselves to educate people on the need to register as voters and participate in the elections if issues of voter apathy are to be addressed.

It is the duty of every Zambian to begin to show confidence in the systems they have created for themselves.

Casting aspersions at bodies such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for poor voter turn out will not do.