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Socialist Party leader, Dr. Fred M’membe, has condemned the by-elections organized by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), describing them as fraudulent, violent, and a waste of resources and time.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Lusaka, M’membe welcomed Transparency International Zambia’s (TI-Z) stance on electoral malpractices, stating it validated his party’s concerns over the ruling United Party for National Development’s (UPND) conduct.
“We have been participating in these by-elections since 2021 and experiencing the same violent, vote-buying, and fraudulent practices by the UPND, which the ECZ and police have failed to address meaningfully,” M’membe said.
The Socialist Party leader accused UPND cadres of perpetrating violence against his party members, often in the presence of police.
He lamented that no arrests or prosecutions had been made, despite multiple reports filed with law enforcement.
“We have been attacked by UPND cadres in front of police officers and even inside police posts, but no action has been taken,” he added.
M’membe also alleged the involvement of senior government officials in campaign activities, claiming that District Commissioners, Permanent Secretaries, and Presidential Aides misuse government resources, including vehicles with altered registration plates, to support UPND campaigns.
He further accused Sports Minister Elvis Nkandu of openly engaging in vote-buying, stating, “He doesn’t even hide it and has earned himself the nickname ‘Ba Tantameni.’”
M’membe warned that UPND’s actions were reminiscent of past administrations that dominated by-elections but suffered heavy losses in general elections due to voter discontent.
“This impunity, criminality, and abuse of power by the UPND leadership, especially Cabinet ministers and cadres, will backfire very badly,” he said.
M’membe remarks followed a recent report by TI-Z, which flagged electoral malpractices during the December 20, 2024, Kawambwa parliamentary by-election in Luapula Province.
TI-Z Executive Director Maurice Nyambe revealed the organization had received reports of vote-buying and the misuse of government programmes to influence voters.
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