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The Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG) has raised serious concerns about electoral malpractices during the recent Kawambwa Constituency by-election, in which the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) emerged victorious.
In its report, CCMG Chairperson, Bishop Andrew Mwenda, accused senior government officials, including Youth, Sports and Arts Minister Elvis Nkandu and Mines and Minerals Development Minister, Paul Kabuswe, of involvement in acts that undermined the electoral process.
The report did not also absolve the Electoral Commission of Zambia and other political parties that participated in the polls from engaging in illegalities.
Specifically, Mwenda highlighted reports of UPND officials allegedly promising fertilizer to the community and distributing cash.
“On December 16, 2024, a CCMG observer in Lushiba Ward reported hearing of UPND officials, including the Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts, the Chililabombwe MP, and the UPND candidate distributing money (K50) to the residents of the Chitondo area,” he alleged.
The report accused UPND supporters of transporting individuals with lost or damaged voter cards from Kawambwa to Nchelenge Constituency for replacements.
“A CCMG observer in Nchelenge Constituency also heard of a teacher from Kawambwa Constituency reportedly bringing blank, stamped police reports to the voter registration centre, completing them on-site, and facilitating voter’s card replacements,” Mwenda added.
He expressed concerns about the integrity of the voter register, noting that the ECZ operated the Nchelenge Voter Registration Centre beyond normal working hours.
“This practice raised concerns about voters being added to the voter’s roll; however, the ECZ issued a statement on December 20, 2024, clarifying that no additional voters were added to the register following the certification of the register on February 21, 2024,” he stated.
Mwenda, however, stressed that the incident undermined public confidence in the voter register, stating that “as part of this incident, a UPND supporter reportedly demanded the cards or their details from the individuals, violating Regulation 39 of the Electoral Process (Registration of Voters) Regulations, 2020, as well as paragraphs 3(1)(b) and 15(1)(h) and (k) of the Electoral Code of Conduct.”
He urged the Secretary to the Cabinet, Patrick Kangwa, to confirm whether the ministers involved in campaign activities had taken leave.
“CCMG documented an instance of the Minister of Youth, Sports and Arts participating in campaigns for the by-election,” he said.
Mwenda recommended that the Secretary to the Cabinet, in collaboration with the ECZ, enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct by requiring all ministers involved in campaigns to take unpaid leave and refrain from using official vehicles or privileges during such activities.
As noted earlier, Mwenda noted that other parties also engaged in malpractice: The United and Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia (UPPZ) allegedly distributed food items, including kapenta and mealie meal, in Chitondo Village.
He added that the Movement for Change and Equality (MCE) reportedly handed out cash in Kamfukeshi, with K10 given to men and K5 to women.
The Socialist Party (SP) allegedly distributed K10 notes in Senga Ward, led by the party president and its candidate.
“On December 14, a CCMG observer witnessed the Socialist Party (SP) handing out K10 to people in Senga Ward, led by the party president and the SP candidate,” Mwenda stated.
He urged the ECZ to “strictly, transparently, impartially, and swiftly enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct and sanction those parties and individuals found in violation of the Code.”
On December 21, the Advocates for Democratic Governance Foundation (ADEG) had condemned the alleged electoral malpractices reported during the Kawambwa parliamentary by-elections held on December 20, 2024.
Gideon Musonda, Executive Director of ADEG, had stated in a press release on Sunday that the organization deployed Field and Result Centre Monitors to observe the elections.
Musonda alleged that these monitors witnessed numerous violations of the electoral code of conduct, including violence, intimidation, harassment, character assassination, and provocation by both ruling and opposition party members.
ADEG also reported that voters in Kamfukeshi area, Lushiba ward, were allegedly offered money as low as K20 as well as soap, salt, and fertilizer, in exchange for their votes.
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