Former Zambia’s Ambassador to Ethiopia and former Permanent Representative to the African Union, Emmanuel Mwamba has called for a fresh national election, arguing that the August 13, 2026 polls were marred by widespread fraud, violence and a broken chain of custody.
Mwamba said he had noted communications from the Electoral Commission of Zambia announcing a re-run in Mandevu Constituency following an attack on the totalling centre.
Mwamba alleged that “well-known UPND thugs led by Kalufyanya (Jimmy Muteba)” attacked polling stations in Chaisa, Lilanda and Chawama townships in Lusaka and trashed thousands of votes.
He cited similar incidents in Kabwe, stating that the Bwacha North tallying centre suspended its process after alleged UPND thugs entered and trashed votes and the facility.
Mwamba further claimed that votes were fraudulently altered in 32 recorded constituencies and mayoral results in Lusaka District were allegedly fraudulently altered with impunity to give a favourable result to the UPND candidate.
“The biggest indictment against this election is the broken chain of custody of ballot papers and material,” he said.
Mwamba defined the chain of custody as rigorous processes and continuous paper trails used to track and secure voting equipment, ballots, and documentation at every stage of an election.
“In light of the extent of the fraud and irregularities in this election, ECZ should have been prudent to run a fresh national election and the State should not have prevented the election petition,” he said.
The ECZ has so far only announced a fresh parliamentary election for Mandevu Constituency after unknown individuals attacked the totalling centre, destroyed result transmission kits and took documentation, according to a statement by Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro.
“According to the report, unknown individuals attacked the totalling centre in Mandevu Constituency after the General Elections held on August 13, 2026,” Kasaro said.
He added that they destroyed result transmission kits and fled with all documentation, leaving the returning officer unable to declare the National Assembly election results.
“In view of this, the Commission has resolved to hold a by-election for Mandevu Constituency on a date to be communicated in due course,” Kasaro said.
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