Abbildung 1: announcement of nominations by ECZ in Lumezi
The 2025 Lumezi by-election emerged not just as a routine replacement of a parliamentary seat, but as a test for Zambia’s electoral integrity ahead of the 2026 general elections. Triggered by the conviction of its MP, the by-election unfortunately exhibited many of the trends TI-Z has witnessed in recent elections, such as campaign polarisation, lack of transparency, and procedural mismanagement.
Understanding the Lumezi Electoral Landscape
Lumezi constituency spans a vast rural area characterized by poor infrastructure and limited access to basic services. Voter priorities revolve around practical needs: rural infrastructure, particularly access to feeder roads, bridges, and clean water; access to clinics and better school infrastructure; agricultural support, especially timely delivery of fertilizer and fair crop prices.[i]
Lumezi’s electorate is highly influenced by local power structures, such as traditional leaders, religious networks, and service providers. Historically, Lumezi has received low development investment from the central government, likely fuelling a sense of marginalization.[ii]
As a result, in recent decades, the Lumezi constituency has shown significant electoral volatility. As illustrated in Fig. 2, since 2011 Lumezi has changed its political allegiance in every election cycle.[iii] The 2025 by-election was the first instance in which the constituency vote aligned with the ruling party, reflecting a historical detachment from national trends. Rather than voting along party lines, Lumezi’s electorate tends to prioritize local development promises, as confirmed by the 2021 victory of MP Munir Zulu, running as an Independent.[iv]
Abbildung 2: Results of the Lumezi by-elections compared to General Elections since 2011
MP Behind Bars
The recent Lumezi by-election was triggered by the nullification of Independent MP Munir Zulu’s seat in April 2025 after his conviction on charges of criminal libel and sedition. Zulu, known for his bold style, had gained notoriety for his confrontational public statements, including unsubstantiated bribery allegations against Finance Minister Situmbeko Musokotwane.[v]
In April 2025, he was sentenced to 12 months in prison with hard labour for criminal libel, a verdict he appealed on the grounds of parliamentary privilege.[vi] This was followed in May by an 18-month sentence for seditious practices after a social media post claimed the President intended to dissolve Parliament.[vii] Zulu remains incarcerated, serving back-to-back sentences while his legal team pursues constitutional appeals and litigation challenging the validity of his convictions.[viii]
Unified opposition and national mourning
In response to the by-election, the Tonse Alliance – comprising the PF, NCP, SP, and ZWW in Lumezi – opted to field a single candidate to gather unified opposition support: Goodson Banda of the NCP, with PF officials playing a central campaign role. UPND fielded Lufeyo Ngoma.[ix] [x]
The campaign period was overshadowed by the death of former President Edgar Lungu, triggering a national mourning period. The opposition called for a postponement of the election, citing disruption of their campaign plans and potential effects in terms of influencing voter turnout. With public gatherings restricted and media coverage dominated by funeral proceedings, the opposition claimed they were denied fair campaign space, while UPND – being in power – was better positioned to maintain momentum through institutional visibility. Despite these concerns, ECZ proceeded with the original schedule.[xi]
On the Ground: Monitoring Irregularities
In the run-up to the Lumezi by-election, TI-Z deployed both long-term and short-term election monitors to independently assess the integrity of the electoral process, deter malpractice, and enhance public confidence. Long-term observers monitored the campaign period, documenting incidents via TI-Z’s online election monitoring platform, while short-term observers were stationed at polling centres on election day to track compliance and procedures.
Beyond deployment, TI-Z played a vital role in building the capacity of monitors, equipping them to report professionally and hold electoral officials accountable. These efforts proved timely, as several irregularities emerged during the campaign. TI-Z responded actively by supporting field observers and using social media to raise public awareness and spotlight concerns.
Ballot Paper Omission and Emergency Reprinting
Just days before the election, it was discovered that the name and symbol of UPND candidate Lufeyo Ngoma were missing from the official ballot papers. The omission – particularly striking given UPND’s status as the ruling party – exposed serious flaws in the ECZ’s verification process and raised concerns about the competence and transparency of electoral officials. The error sparked confusion and mistrust among voters, especially UPND supporters, who feared deliberate manipulation.[xii] [xiii]
In response, the ECZ was forced to urgently reprint the ballots, triggering a complex and costly logistical effort. Ballots had to be flown in Zambia and airlifted to remote areas of Lumezi, including by helicopter to reach polling stations inaccessible by road.[xiv] [xv]
Ballot Distribution
Concerns over the lack of transparency in the handling of electoral materials further undermined confidence in the process. Civil society groups, including TI-Z, raised alarms about the unannounced transportation of ballot papers from Lusaka to Lumezi – reportedly done without full communication to stakeholders or the presence of all party agents. Allegedly, only ruling party representatives were present during key handovers, fuelling suspicion among opposition parties and monitors. While the ECZ maintained that proper notifications had been issued, these claims were disputed by parties.
Additionally, observers noted that transport vehicles were not sealed, making it impossible to verify whether ballot papers had been tampered with en route.
Voter Intimidation and Uneven Policing
In the lead-up to the vote, isolated reports of voter intimidation and partisan conduct by security forces emerged. Opposition supporters alleged harassment by local officials and threats aimed at deterring attendance at opposition events. While difficult to verify systematically, these incidents reflected familiar patterns from past elections. [i]
On June 25th, security was intensified as helicopters and officers were deployed to support ballot delivery and polling in hard-to-reach areas. Observers noted a lack of clear protocols to guarantee the neutrality of deployed personnel. In some cases, the presence of armed officials at polling stations may have discouraged participation, particularly among women and young voters.
Allegations of NRC and Voter Data Collection
On election day, UPND agents were reportedly collecting voters’ NRC and voter card numbers. While the intent remains unclear, the practice represents a serious breach of Zambia’s electoral laws and voter privacy protections, and creates an atmosphere of coercion and surveillance – even stronger in rural areas.[ii]
Issues Observed: recap
The irregularities documented in Lumezi raise serious concerns about the credibility and preparedness of electoral management at district level. Key issues include:
- ECZ lapses in transparency, communication, and administrative competence
- Opaque handling of electoral materials
- Uneven enforcement of campaign regulations
- Potential undue influence of politicians in the electoral process
- Alleged voter intimidation, manipulation, and data privacy violations
- Presence of armed officials at some polling stations
These issues – especially in combination – created voter confusion, undermined confidence in the process, and would likely contribute to lower voter turnout, a common but troubling feature of Zambian by-elections (although official turnout figures have not been published). Indeed, low participation reduces electoral legitimacy and raises questions about the mandate of those elected.
Results and Aftermath
Despite the documented irregularities, the vote proceeded generally peacefully on June 26th. The ECZ announced the results the following day: Lufeyo Ngoma (UPND) won with 11,521 votes, ahead of Goodson Banda (NCP) with 6,821 votes. [i]
UPND hailed the victory as a breakthrough in Eastern Province, historically tough terrain, and a positive signal ahead of the 2026 general election. Ngoma’s victory likely reflects the strong appeal of his local development-focused campaign,[ii] while Banda’s defeat highlights that Lumezi voters are driven by pragmatic promises rather than party loyalty
Abbildung 3: Lumezi by-election results
The PF argued that the Tonse Alliance might have prevailed if campaigning hadn’t been disrupted by former President Lungu’s funeral.[i] Tonse also voiced the intention to challenge the results, claiming that the ECZ compromised the election’s integrity by printing and distributing new ballots within 24 hours, without proper inspection by all stakeholders.[ii]
In response, ECZ officials defended their crisis response, stating that security and logistics were managed to uphold a peaceful and credible election. Some observers acknowledged the Commission’s efforts but called for internal reforms to prevent future errors. [iii] Civil society groups like TI-Z highlighted deeper irregularities and systemic issues. Coming after similar unrest in the 2024 Kawambwa by-election,[iv] the Lumezi vote reinforces the urgency of strengthening electoral safeguards ahead of next year’s general elections.
Author: Pierpaolo Crivellaro
Footnotes:
[i] Local Government Association of Zambia. (2023). Lumezi district and investment profile. https://www.lgazambia.org.zm/hub/resources/lumezi-district-and-investment-profile
[ii] Chasefu-Lundazi-Lumezi Joint Integrated Development Plan 2020-2030. Lundazi-Joint-Integrated-Development-Plan-J-IDP.pdf
[iii] Electoral Commission of Zambia. General Election Results. https://www.elections.org.zm/?page_id=4293
[iv] News Diggers. (2025, Janaury 8). Munir ditches PF, cites rampant infighting. https://diggers.news/local/2021/01/08/munir-ditches-pf-cites-rampant-infighting/
[i] ZNBC Today. (2021, April 8). [Facebook post]. https://www.facebook.com/znbctoday/posts/lumezi-parliamentary-seat-declared-vacant-after-the-conviction-of-mp-munir-zulu/1010322191199746/
[ii] Daily Nation Zambia (2025, April 7). Facebook Post. https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=634747936031499
[iii] News Diggers. (2025, May 1). Court convicts Munir for sedition, defers sentencing. https://diggers.news/courts/2025/05/01/court-convicts-munir-for-sedition-defers-sentencing/
[iv] Munir Zulu v Attorney General and Ors (2025/CCZ/0011) [2025] ZMCC 10 (4 June 2025).
[v] BreezeFM (2025, May 28). https://www.facebook.com/breezefmchipata/posts/here-are-the-candidates-for-the-forthcoming-lumezi-parliamentary-by-electionwise/1245900194209108/
[vi] News Diggers. (2025, May 27). UPND adopts Lufeyo Ngoma for Lumezi, as he promises victory. https://diggers.news/local/2025/05/27/upnd-adopts-lufeyo-ngoma-for-lumezi-as-he-promises-victory/
[vii] News Diggers. (2025, June 19). Lumezi by‑election will proceed as planned – ECZ. https://diggers.news/local/2025/06/19/lumezi-by-election-will-proceed-as-planned-ecz/
[i] Diggers News. (2025, June 25). Candidate’s name accidentally omitted from Lumezi ballot papers: ECZ. https://diggers.news/local/2025/06/25/candidates-name-accidentally-omitted-from-lumezi-ballot-papers-ecz/
[ii] Mwamba, E. [@emmanuel.mwamba.35]. (2025, June 24). Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/emmanuel.mwamba.35/posts/proceed-with-lumezi-by-election-without-upndthe-upnd-candidates-name-is-missing-/10237387917178085/
[iii] Open Zambia. (2025, June 25). ECZ restores UPND candidate to Lumezi ballot papers. https://www.openzambia.com/politics/2025/6/25/ecz-restores-upnd-candidate-to-lumezi-ballot-papers
[iv] ZNBC Today. (2025, June). Reprinted ballots received in Lumezi [Facebook video]. https://www.facebook.com/znbctoday/videos/reprinted-ballots-received-in-lumeziby-wilson-mulindathe-reprinted-ballots-for-t/696985986292919/
[i] Times of Zambia (2025, May 27). Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Timesofzambia/posts/300-cops-deployed-ahead-of-lumezi-by-election-by-julius-phiri-cynthia-nkhata-and/1179587340847834/
[ii] Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). Zambia Electoral Act, No. 35 of 2016 [Legislation]. Government of Zambia. https://www.elections.org.zm/verc/files/Electoral-Process-Act-No.-35-2016.pdf
[i] News Diggers (2025, June 28). Lumezi Victory a signal for 2026 – UPND. https://diggers.news/local/2025/06/28/lumezi-victory-a-signal-for-2026-upnd/
[ii] Ngoma, L. [@Kanele FM]. (2025, June 27). [Video]. Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/kanelefm/videos/my-leadership-is-for-all-the-people-of-lumezi-constituency-including-those-who-d/1120224763264820/
[i] News Diggers. (2025, June 30). Opposition would’ve won in Lumezi if it wasn’t for Lungu’s funeral – Mwila. https://diggers.news/local/2025/06/30/opposition-wouldve-won-in-lumezi-if-it-wasnt-for-lungus-funeral-mwila/
[ii] Patriotic Front Zambia. (2025, June 27). [Facebook post]. https://www.facebook.com/patrioticfrontzambia/posts/they-stole-lumezi-seat-by-ecz-picking-upnd-cadres-as-electoral-and-polling-offic/1061395962765903/
[iii] Lusaka Times. (2025, June 26). ECZ greenlights Lumezi by‑election after correcting ballot omission. Lusaka Times. https://www.lusakatimes.com/2025/06/26/ecz-greenlights-lumezi-by-election-after-correcting-ballot-omission
[iv] Transparency International Zambia. (2025, January). The Kawambwa by-election: Observations and recommendations [PDF report]. https://tizambia.org.zm/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/Transparency-Watch-The-Kawambwa-By-Election-Iss_250130_142810.pdf