Elective hopefuls risk dismissal for missing deadline.

Central Province Permanent Secretary Milner Mwanakampwe has warned that public service workers who sought adoption for elective positions but failed to resign by the stipulated May 15 deadline risk dismissal from the civil service.

Dr Mwanakampwe says government issued clear guidelines requiring civil servants with political ambitions to resign before participating in partisan politics.

Speaking to journalists in Kabwe, he disclosed that only two District Commissioners in the province formally resigned before the deadline in compliance with the directive.

The Permanent Secretary identified the former District Commissioners for Serenje and Chitambo districts as the only public officers who officially declared their intentions to participate in partisan politics.

“Apart from the two, there is no other civil servant who declared to my office that they wanted to be adopted by political parties because they intended to contest as Members of Parliament. However, should we discover that there are others, whether from the ruling party or the opposition, they will be ejected from the public service,” he said.

Dr Mwanakampwe emphasized that there will be no exceptions in enforcing the directive.

Secretary to the Cabinet Patrick Kangwa had earlier directed civil servants intending to contest in the August 13 General Elections to resign by May 15, 2026.

Meanwhile, Dr Mwanakampwe has urged political parties and the media to avoid sensationalising incidents of political violence, saying reports should be factual and verified.

He noted that some reports of political violence have been exaggerated, creating unnecessary tension ahead of the elections.

The Permanent Secretary called on all political parties to adhere to the Electoral Code of Conduct and promote peaceful campaigns.

He further urged the police to handle cases of political violence professionally and impartially, stressing that the law must be applied equally regardless of political affiliation.