Opposition candidate says blocking tactics will fail as ECZ rejects disqualification claims
Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has warned that alleged attempts to block opposition candidates from participating in the August 13 general election risk creating confusion and instability in the country, as the Electoral Commission of Zambia moved to dismiss social media claims that he and running mate Makebi Zulu face possible disqualification.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia yesterday described circulating claims against the Mundubile ticket as false and malicious, stating that both candidates had already been duly nominated in accordance with electoral laws. Chief electoral officer Brown Kasaro said allegations suggesting ECZ chairperson Mwangala Zaloumis had directed officials to bar the pair from contesting the election were fabricated and misleading.
Mr Mundubile, meanwhile, said opposition parties were increasingly concerned about what he described as last-minute manoeuvres aimed at frustrating political competitors ahead of polling day. He warned that any attempt to remove candidates from the ballot after nominations would damage public confidence in the electoral process and deepen political tension.
“We are alert and watching closely,” Mr Mundubile said in remarks carried by Daily Nation. “Any attempt to manipulate the process or stop opposition participation will not help the country.”
The exchange comes at a time when electoral institutions, courts and law enforcement agencies are facing growing scrutiny from opposition figures and civil society organisations over their handling of politically sensitive matters ahead of the election campaign period.
The controversy surrounding the Mundubile ticket emerged alongside another politically charged dispute involving Patriots for Economic Progress, where Government yesterday rejected claims that party records had been altered at the Registrar of Societies.
Home Affairs and Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dickson Matembo said no unauthorised changes had been made to PEP records and insisted the party remained legally registered as a political organisation. Mr Matembo said records submitted to ECZ in April this year remained consistent with previous office-bearer documentation issued in 2022.
The matter followed allegations from PEP leader Sean Tembo, who claimed irregularities within party registration systems had affected nomination procedures. Government, however, said confusion surrounding the matter arose from submission irregularities rather than deliberate tampering.
Across opposition circles, concerns surrounding nominations, candidate withdrawals and alleged institutional bias are increasingly dominating political messaging.
Former minister Dr Katele Kalumba, speaking in The Mast, accused the ruling UPND of relying on State institutions to preserve political control after allegedly losing support on the ground. Dr Kalumba described the Mundubile-Makebi ticket as a serious political challenge to the ruling party and warned against using public institutions to interfere with electoral competition.
The Electoral Commission has continued defending its independence amid growing online attacks and misinformation. ECZ yesterday also warned political players against spreading false claims capable of undermining confidence in constitutional institutions.
At the same time, several independent and opposition candidates have withdrawn from parliamentary races in parts of Southern Province, leaving some UPND candidates effectively unopposed. Times of Zambia reported that withdrawals had been recorded in Dundumwezi, Kalomo, Pemba and other constituencies, with ruling party officials claiming the number of unopposed UPND parliamentary candidates had continued rising.
Political violence and electoral conduct also featured prominently across yesterday’s newspaper coverage.
In The Mast, legal scholar Prof Cephas Lumina warned that political violence and selective application of electoral laws risk undermining constitutional rights and democratic participation. Another political commentary by Hicks Sikazwe argued that democracy could not function properly where intimidation and violence influence political participation.
The concerns come against the backdrop of heightened political mobilisation across the country following the close of nominations and the start of campaign activity.
President Hakainde Hichilema, speaking during the swearing-in of 40 judges at State House yesterday, urged judicial officers to deliver justice fairly and without delay while cautioning against discussing institutional matters through social media platforms.
The President said public confidence in institutions depended heavily on professionalism, integrity and discipline within the Judiciary. His remarks were widely interpreted as part of broader efforts to reassure the public about institutional stability during the election period.
Economic frustrations also continue feeding political tensions ahead of the polls.
Opposition figures across several newspapers linked rising mealie meal prices, fuel costs, electricity concerns and unemployment to growing voter dissatisfaction. Former opposition chief whip Stephen Chungu warned in The Mast that citizens would suffer more hardship if the ruling party secured another term, while other opposition voices argued that macroeconomic improvements had not translated into lower household costs.
Government-aligned publications, however, continued projecting optimism around mining recovery, bumper maize harvests, solar investments and education reforms.
The Electoral Commission has repeatedly appealed for calm and responsible conduct from political parties as campaigns intensify.
ECZ has also warned against hate speech, tribal rhetoric and inflammatory political messaging capable of undermining national unity during campaigns.
Editors Note:
The battle for public confidence is rapidly shifting beyond campaign rallies into questions surrounding institutions, nominations, political freedoms and the credibility of the electoral process itself
