Bidvest-owned Lithotech, one of South Africa's largest business forms manufacturer, was awarded the international tender to print the referendum ballot papers for Kenya's proposed new constitution.

Working to the Electoral Commission of Kenya's strict specifications, the project was headed-up by Lithotech's Special Project's Manager, Ben Sachs, and supervised by a specially appointed Kenyan delegation. Lithotech's achievement is two-fold: besides surpassing 30 international contenders for the contract, this is also the first time the ballot printing tender has been awarded outside the United Kingdom.

The production of the secret ballot included the printing, numbering and personalisation of the 12 million ballot papers which were delivered on pallets in accordance with their individual audit trail. This ensured the smooth and accurate distribution of the papers to more than 14 000 polling stations in 70 districts.

Utilising its high speed multi-colour print capacity, the Lithotech Cape Division undertook the production, binding and shipping of the ballot papers and completed the project in just two weeks. Its efforts in this complex logistical operation contributed to a successful and violence-free referendum.

[25 Jan 2006 12:02]

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