Good morning fellow citizens and welcome to this fourth update from Transparency International Zambia (TI-Z) under our Kuteteza Masankho election Project.
As we have previously stated, these regular updates, which are based primarily on what our long-term election observers currently deployed across the country are observing on the ground, enable us to objectively highlight various developments taking place in the electoral environment as we head towards polling day on 13th August 2026.
The three issues we are focusing on in today’s update are: the increasing involvement of traditional leaders and public officials in partisan politics; the continued occurrence of political violence and intimidation; and the need for election campaigns to shift from political rhetoric towards issue-based policy discussions.
1. Partisan Engagement by Traditional Leaders and Public Officials, and the Escalation of Divisive Political Messaging.
TI-Z has noted with growing concern the increasing involvement of traditional leaders and public officials in partisan political activities, as well as the rise in political statements that have the potential to deepen tribal and regional divisions during the campaign period.
In recent weeks, we have observed several endorsements by traditional leaders across the political divide, raising concerns about the erosion of institutional neutrality.
On the ruling party side, endorsements included Senior Chief Puta of Chiengi District, Chief Chikupili and Chief Kanyesha of Luano District, Chief Hamusonde of Monze, and
Chief Chitambo, all publicly pledging support for President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND.
On the opposition side, we have noted endorsements by Senior Chief Mununga, Chief Mwamba, and Senior Chief Nsama, all of who expressed support for Mr. Brian Mundubile’s presidential bid. These endorsements highlight the growing involvement of traditional leaders in partisan politics, a practice that risks undermining the electoral process by unduly influencing citizens’ political choices, thereby weakening democratic integrity.
TI-Z wishes to draw stakeholders’ attention to Section 3(1)(i) of the Electoral Code of Conduct under the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016, which states in no uncertain terms that one of the functions of the Electoral Commission of Zambia during an election is to “ensure that traditional leaders do not exert undue influence on their subjects to support a particular political party or candidate”. Given this very clear provision in the law, we are at pains to understand why the ECZ has continued to turn a blind eye to the blatant disregard of this provision by our traditional leaders as shown earlier. TI-Z therefore challenges the ECZ to enforce this legal provision, as required by Section 110 of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016. Traditional leaders hold positions of trust and authority in communities that transcend partisan politics, and their public endorsements carry significant weight, with the potential to unduly influence citizens’ political choices. The ECZ’s failure to implement this provision makes them complicit in the undermining of Zambia’s democracy in that respect.
TI-Z further notes with grave concern the public remarks by Zambia’s Ambassador to South Korea, Mr. Andrew Banda, who openly declared that he, being a serving diplomat and civil servant, had returned to Zambia to campaign for President Hakainde Hichilema. Civil servants, including diplomats accredited to Zambia’s various missions abroad, should have no business taking part in active partisan politics. In fact, active participation in politics by civil servants constitutes gross misconduct which can lead to immediate dismissal. In particular, the Disciplinary Code and Procedures for Handling offences in the Public Service of 2023 makes it an offence under Category B for public officers to engage in active politics. We therefore call upon the Secretary to Cabinet to institute the
necessary disciplinary measures against Mr. Banda for brazenly abrogating this position. Failure to act on the part of the Secretary to Cabinet will confirm perceptions of political bias within the civil service.
We further note that this is an issue that appears to have been going on for a long time. We recall that during the 2021 election season, diplomats such as Mr. Emmanuel Mwamba and Mr. Anthony Mukwita also openly campaigned for the then ruling Patriotic Front and at the time, the UPND, then in opposition, were among many stakeholders that strongly condemned the practice. It is therefore important that the UPND, now in power, does not perpetuate practices it previously opposed, and we challenge them to categorically state that they do not condone Mr. Banda’s actions. Political neutrality within the civil service should remain a consistent democratic principle, and any departure from that principle will undermine the integrity of our democracy.
TI-Z has also has observed the worrying increase in statements by political leaders that risk inflaming tribal and regional sentiments. Remarks such as those by Mr. Mutotwe Kafwaya suggesting that Western Province did not deserve an international airport (although he later apologized) and Hon. Chishimba Kambwili’s comments portraying President Hakainde Hichilema in ethnic terms, illustrate how political rhetoric can reinforce stereotypes and fan divisions in communities. On the ruling party side, President Hichilema’s continued references to tribal divisions under the previous administration, coupled with reported threats of violence against Lozis who might support opposition candidates, as well as calls by some UPND members in Western Province to physically confront opposition figures, further highlight the dangers of divisive discourse. Political leaders wield enormous influence over public discourse, and their words carry significant weight in shaping public attitudes. Regardless of political affiliation, statements that promote tribal, ethnic, or regional divisions undermine Zambia’s long-standing tradition of national unity and peaceful coexistence. We therefore call on all stakeholders across the political divide to be more alive to their responsibilities of promoting peace and unity rather than dividing the nation along tribal or any other lines.
2. Continued Political Violence and Intimidation
TI-Z remains deeply concerned by the continued occurrence of political violence, intimidation, destruction of campaign materials, and attacks targeting political actors across the country. Among the incidents monitored during this reporting period are the reported killing of the driver of an independent aspiring candidate in Magoye, the attempted disruption of an opposition mobilisation meeting in Livingstone, and the assault of the driver of a Tonse Alliance parliamentary candidate in Petauke, during which the campaign vehicle was also reportedly damaged.
We further wish to strongly condemn the circumstances that led to the death of Mr. Nelson Chikubi of Lusaka’s John Laing Township, who allegedly died after being assaulted by suspected UPND cadres following an incident involving a radio station playing an opposition campaign song. TI-Z notes that the Zambia Police Service has since instituted investigations into the matter and encourages a thorough and impartial investigation to establish the facts. In that respect, it is our fervent hope that the Zambia Police Service will keep the public updated on the progress of these investigations, rather than allow the issue to die a natural death and be eroded from public discourse.
Political violence remains one of the greatest threats to the credibility of Zambia’s elections. Every assault, threat, abduction, act of vandalism, and incident of intimidation undermines citizens’ constitutional right to freely participate in political activities, and must be condemned in the strongest terms by all well meaning stakeholders.
3. Call for Policy Based Election Campaigns
As the campaign period progresses, TI-Z has observed that public discourse continues to be dominated by political rhetoric, exchanges between political opponents, historical grievances, and personality-driven debates. Comparatively less attention has been devoted to discussing concrete policy proposals and implementation strategies contained in political party manifestos. This is our view is very unfortunate.
Elections provide citizens with an opportunity to evaluate competing visions for Zambia’s future. AT the same time, they provide political parties with the opportunity to sell their
respective visions for Zambia to citizens. It therefore goes without saying that citizens deserve to hear practical solutions on matters affecting their daily lives, including the economy, employment, cost of living, health, education, agriculture, mining, constitutional reform, governance, anti-corruption, and service delivery. While robust political debate is an important feature of democracy, it should largely be anchored on substantive discussions that speak to specific ideologies and strategies for advancing the national development agenda. The general lack of such discourse continues to be a lost opportunity, and we call upon all political players to remedy this and elevate the quality of public discourse by focusing their campaigns on policies, measurable commitments, and practical solutions to the challenges facing the country. Citizens should ultimately be voting for ideas and programmes that will improve their lives – not merely personalities or political rhetoric.
Conclusion
As Zambia moves closer to polling day on 13th August, TI-Z reiterates that the responsibility for safeguarding democracy rests with all stakeholders. Political parties must promote peaceful campaigns and discipline members who engage in misconduct. Traditional leaders and public officials must uphold political neutrality. Law enforcement agencies and the Electoral Commission of Zambia must continue discharging their mandates professionally, impartially, and consistently. Above all, political leaders must recognise that their words carry significant influence and should therefore be used to unite rather than divide the nation.
TI-Z will continue monitoring electoral developments across the country, providing regular updates in that respect in order to contribute to the promotion of peaceful, transparent, accountable, credible, and inclusive elections this year.
Thank you and may God bless Zambia.
Maurice K. Nyambe (Mr.)
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
