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The Tonse Alliance has rejected the outcome of the Kawambwa parliamentary by-election, citing widespread electoral irregularities that it claims compromised the integrity of the polls.
“As Tonse Alliance, we categorically reject these results in their entirety due to several issues,” Alliance spokesperson Sean Tembo said in a statement on Saturday.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) declared the United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate the winner with 5,519 votes, while the Alliance candidate, Danstan Mwansa, contesting on the New Congress Party (NCP) ticket, garnered 3,896 votes.
However, Tembo alleged that the election was marred by violence, voter intimidation, and procedural violations.
According to Tembo, UPND cadres engaged in well-documented acts of violence across the constituency, creating an environment where a free and fair election was impossible.
He also accused the Zambia Police Service of bias, alleging they arrested opposition officials, including Jean Chisenga, Celestine Mukandila, and NCP President Peter Chanda, while turning a blind eye to offenses committed by UPND cadres.
Tembo further claimed that UPND cadres chased polling agents and election monitors in several wards, including Lyanga, Lushiba, Fisaka, Senga, Kala, and Luena, denying the Alliance an opportunity to verify the accuracy of the votes cast.
He also raised concerns about the treatment of illiterate voters, alleging that presiding officers in most polling stations, except Chitondo and Muyembe Primary Schools, refused to allow these voters to choose someone to assist them in casting their votes.
Instead, officers reportedly insisted on guiding voters in secret without oversight from polling agents or election monitors.
“In light of these irregularities, the Council of Leaders of the Tonse Alliance will convene to deliberate on the next steps to address the illegality that occurred in Kawambwa Central Constituency,” Tembo stated.
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