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Former President Edgar Lungu has further accused the government of manipulating the institutions of State, alleging that the plot was aimed at truncating the country’s democratic values.
In a statement released to Zambia Monitor on Tuesday, Lungu claimed that schemes to undermine the 2026 presidential and general elections were intensifying.
“From the secret issuance of National Registration Cards (NRC) to the covert registration of voters, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has failed to publicize these exercises and has not conducted them openly,” Lungu alleged.
He further lamented that these actions were aimed at weakening the opposition, eliminating credible candidates, and paving the way for the United Party for National Development (UPND) to allegedly rig the 2026 elections.
Lungu warned that the involvement of democratic institutions such as Parliament, the Judiciary and the ECZ in what he called “illegal and dangerous schemes” orchestrated by State House would amount to treachery and a reversal of Zambia’s democratic values.
“These actions are threatening national security and peace. Zambians, as the true custodians of peace and security, must protect the democratic gains earned over the years,” Lungu said.
He called for the preservation of the hard-fought achievements of Zambia’s independence in 1964 and democracy in 1991, criticizing President Hakainde Hichilema for allegedly focusing on retaining power instead of addressing national crises.
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“Instead of dealing with challenges such as load-shedding, high living costs, unemployment, the volatile exchange rate, rising debt, and inflation, President Hichilema is scheming to retain power at the expense of our democracy and the rule of law,” Lungu charged.
He questioned the state of the economy since Hichilema assumed office, asking, “What was the price of mealie-meal, fuel, electricity, fertiliser, cooking oil, and sugar back then?”
Lungu emphasized that winning elections should come through serving the people and improving the economy, not by plotting to retain power against the people’s will.
He also commented on the suspension of Constitutional Court judges, stating, “All the complaints against the judges were comprehensively dealt with, but we see that the matter has been unjustifiably reopened, and the judges remain suspended.”
Lungu concluded by saying that he had spoken on these issues due to their significance for the well-being of the country.
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