By 
Former President, Edgar Lungu, has backed Kawambwa Constituency by-election TONSE Alliance candidate, Danstan Mwansa, pledging victory despite the smear campaigns which have been allegedly orchestrated by the ruling UPND.
Lungu also accused President Hakainde Hichilema’s administration of misleading Zambians with unfulfilled promises on economic improvement, claiming the public was growing weary of such tactics.
Speaking at a media briefing on Wednesday at Cresta Lodge in Lusaka, Lungu vowed that the Tonse Alliance would not be intimidated by what he termed UPND’s political “machinations,” or imingalato, aimed at discouraging political participation.
Lungu introduced the Kawambwa Tonse Alliance candidate, Mwansa, during the event and alleged that the UPND was orchestrating a smear campaign against him claiming government machinery had been deployed to spread falsehoods about the candidate.
“The Zambian people are tired of lies. If you took your children to school in China on the basis of lies, it will not continue to work. We will campaign for our candidate in Kawambwa despite imingalato like restricting opposition movements because the President is in the area,” Lungu declared.
Tonse Alliance spokesperson, Sean Tembo, accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of covertly campaigning for the UPND through questionable activities in the constituency.
“The ECZ is campaigning for the UPND through activities such as holding meetings with chiefs and paying youths for attending sessions. We have instructed our legal team to challenge these actions in court,” Tembo said.
He further alleged that the UPND’s fear of losing the Kawambwa by-election had led to panic and illegal activities, including leveraging the ECZ to manipulate traditional leaders and the youth.
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Tonse Alliance lawyer, Celestine Mukandila, demanded the resignation of ECZ officials, including Mwangala Zaloumis and Donald Chipenzi, accusing them of bias and promoting the UPND’s agenda.
“I have written to the ECZ over its statement labeling me and others as thugs for entering the Kawambwa Nomination Centre. This tarnishes our reputations. If no apology is issued, I will take legal action,” Mukandila warned.
The Tonse Alliance also announced the addition of several political figures, including former United Kwacha Alliance (UKA) Secretary-General Lucky Mulusa, National Youth Chairperson Thomas Sipalo, and Media Director Ephraim Shakafuswa.
The Kawambwa by-election has sparked significant tensions, with accusations of political interference and bias continuing to dominate the campaign narrative.
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