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Patriotic Front (PF) Chairperson for Information and Publicity, Emmanuel Mwamba, has accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of acting as a “useful tool of State House,” citing what he described as repeated partisan conduct, particularly during by-elections.
Mwamba alleged that the continued presence of ECZ officials, Mwangala Zaloumis, McDonald Chipenzi, Brown Kasaro and Dr Collins Kachaka demonstrated that the 2026 General Election was “as good as stolen” due to what he termed their partisan conduct.
In a statement issued in Lusaka on Sunday, Mwamba said a recent statement by ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Brown Kasaro, was appalling, arguing that it misinterpreted the law and overstepped the Commission’s mandate and authority.
In the statement dated December 13, 2025, Kasaro said there was no provision under Article 52 of the Constitution of Zambia for the electronic submission of nomination papers, adding that nomination papers should be submitted physically.
“She caused the by-election—that ‘a person who causes a vacancy in the National Assembly due to the reasons specified under clause (2) (a), (b), (c), (d), (g) and (h) shall not, during the term of that Parliament—(a) be eligible to contest an election; or (b) hold public office,’” reads the statement.
Mwamba said in the cases involving Bowman Lusambo of Kabushi Constituency and Joseph Malanji of Kwacha Constituency, the Constitutional Court reprimanded the ECZ for what it described as illegalities.
He claimed the Constitutional Court ruled that the Electoral Commission of Zambia could not interpret the Constitution with regard to the eligibility of candidates.
“The court emphasized that the authority to interpret the Constitution is solely the preserve of the judiciary,” Mwamba stated.
Mwamba argued that in the current Chawama Constituency matter, Tasila Lungu did not cause the by-election, and that Kasaro’s interpretation of the law regarding the filing of nominations amounted to political mischief.
He further accused Kasaro of abusing his authority in an attempt to bar Lungu from participating in the Chawama by-election.
“And by the way, who told him that she will participate in this election? How can an entire ECZ work based on vengeful emotions and wild speculations?” Mwamba wondered.
Mwamba said key stakeholders should by now understand that the ECZ, in its current form, was not fit for purpose, citing concerns over its operations, including the voter registration exercise.
He further alleged that the establishment of the Electoral Reform Technical Committee, whose recommendations gave rise to Bill 7, had threatened the holding of credible, democratic, independent, free and fair elections.
“The repeated pleas by stakeholders that the President must protect and honour the Constitution by allowing an independent Electoral Commission have fallen on deaf ears, as he is the perpetrator of these dirty schemes to undermine the independence of the Commission,” Mwamba said.
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