Party leader, Situmbeko, accuses UPND govt of manipulating by-elections to secure constitutional changes

Pumulo Situmbeko, leader of the New Era Democratic (NED) party, has accused the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) of orchestrating by-elections to increase their parliamentary numbers, with the aim of achieving a two-thirds majority.

According to Situmbeko, this strategy was alleged to be part of a larger plan to amend the Constitution and extend the UPND’s tenure in office.

In a statement released in Lusaka on Wednesday, Situmbeko claimed that the UPND was pursuing a goal of securing 104 Members of Parliament (MPs) through by-elections, which would enable them to change the Constitution at will.

“They cannot have 104 or two-thirds Members of Parliament—that’s their goal, to change the constitution and extend their tenure,” Situmbeko alleged.

“Zambians must demand accountability and fairness, and tell the UPND government to stop giving excuses, oppression, or secrecy.”

Situmbeko also criticised the government’s handling of the economy, stating that despite their calls for Zambians to work harder, the promises of a better life, including resolving power blackouts, remain unfulfilled.

Situmbeko went on to express concerns about the country’s electoral processes, specifically highlighting issues with police conduct and electoral transparency.

She criticised the police for failing to ensure fairness during elections, particularly in areas like Kawambwa, where she claimed the absence of roadblocks and monitoring allowed chaos to ensue.

“Instead of acting proactively to protect the integrity of the process, they only issued meaningless statements after the damage was done,” Situmbeko said.

Further, she raised serious questions about the transparency of Zambia’s ballot printing process.

Situmbeko accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of secrecy, citing troubling reports of secret printing of voter cards and ballots.

“Who is responsible for printing the ballots and when and where is this being done? Are opposition parties involved in overseeing the process, as they should be?” she asked.

In light of these concerns, Situmbeko called for the resignation of ECZ Chairperson, Mwangala Zalomis, and Commissioner MacDonald Chipenzi.

She argued that their actions had compromised the credibility of the commission and undermined trust in the electoral system.

“Their actions have significantly undermined the credibility of the institution, and they should consider stepping down,” she said.

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