from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – ALLEGATIONS that another ruling party in Southern Africa is bringing foreign nationals into the country to influence the outcome of a general election have resurfaced.
This comes as Zambia prepares for high-stakes elections in a week’s time.
The allegations add to escalating political violence that has already raised doubts about whether the polls, scheduled for next Thursday, will be credible.
The elections are expected to be a two-horse race between the United Party for National Development (UPND) Alliance of the incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema and the Tonse Alliance, whose presidential candidate is Brian Mundubile.
This week, Tonse made startling allegations of a plot by the governing party to bring individuals from neighbouring countries into Zambia to cast ballots.
Celestine Mukandila, Tonse Secretary-General, said the opposition alliance had received intelligence that foreign nationals from Angola and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) were in possession of Zambian National Registration Cards (NRCs) and voters’ cards, with plans for them to enter the country to vote.
“We are giving our colleagues instructions to remain vigilant and ensure that we protect this democratic process,” Mukandila was quoted as saying during a press briefing.
The foreign nationals are alleged to have entered through the towns of Chavuma and Ikelenge in north-western Zambia, which border Angola and the DRC.
At the same press briefing, Mukandila also alleged that three Tonse members who had been sent to Russia for specialised protection training had been kidnapped.
The trio was identified as Gideon Kalopa, Victor Muzyamba and Dickson Tembo, who were allegedly abducted by state agents upon their recent arrival at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport.
“We do not know where they are now,” Mukandila was quoted as saying.
The UPND has rejected the allegations of bringing foreign nationals into the country, describing them as desperate, irresponsible and a projection of the opposition’s own past actions.
“These allegations are not only irresponsible but also expose the opposition’s growing desperation as the country heads towards polling day,” said Mark Simuuwe, UPND Media Director.
The ruling party maintains that it needs no external assistance, relying instead on voter confidence built on President Hakainde Hichilema’s administrative reforms, economic recovery, infrastructure development and social programmes.
The governing party, which is seeking re-election after coming to power in 2021, called for issue-based campaigning and reaffirmed its commitment to peace.
“Rather than manufacturing conspiracy theories, the Tonse Alliance should explain to Zambians why they deserve another opportunity to govern,” Simuuwe said.
“Elections are won through credible ideas, practical solutions and the confidence of the electorate, not through fear, misinformation and inflammatory rhetoric.”
This is not the first time such allegations have been levelled against a ruling party during elections in the Southern African Development Community (SADC).
Zimbabwe has frequently featured in such claims during elections in Mozambique and Namibia.
During Mozambique’s elections, Zimbabwe’s ruling Zimbabwe African National Union–Patriotic Front (ZANU-PF) was accused of directly assisting the governing Front for the Liberation of Mozambique (FRELIMO) to rig the poll.
Media investigations alleged that vendors, farmers and ZANU-PF loyalists were illegally registered as Mozambican diaspora voters despite having no Mozambican citizenship.
Some Mozambican civil society organisations relied on these reports to challenge the victory of Daniel Chapo and FRELIMO before regional bodies, but without success.
An estimated 300 to 400 people were killed during post-election protests.
In Namibia, allegations of foreign involvement centred on illegal cross-border voting by Angolan nationals and alleged interference from Zimbabwe.
It was claimed that the ruling South West Africa People’s Organisation (SWAPO) exploited porous borders by allowing Angolan nationals to enter Namibia and cast ballots without producing valid Namibian identity documents.
Critics and opposition parties also accused ZANU-PF and the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of exporting electoral tactics to Namibian authorities that allegedly frustrated voters in opposition strongholds.
As has often been reported during Zimbabwean elections, opposition strongholds experienced severe ballot paper shortages, while the opening of polling stations was significantly delayed.
ZANU-PF also dispatched a high-level political delegation to Namibia days before the election.
Priscilla Chigumba, Chairperson of the ZEC, likewise travelled to Namibia ahead of the poll to lead the official SADC Electoral Commissions Forum pre-election assessment mission.
SWAPO and Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah ultimately emerged victorious.
Controversial Zimbabwean businessman Wicknell Chivayo, who has close links to ZANU-PF, has also been at the centre of allegations of manipulating elections across Southern Africa.
Analyst Brian Polombwe said, “This cross-border electoral interference continues to corrode public trust in regional blocs such as SADC, which opposition parties accuse of turning a blind eye to mutual protection pacts among ruling parties.”
SADC remains largely dominated by former liberation movements which, decades after the end of colonial rule, continue to maintain close political ties.
Meanwhile, political violence is escalating in Zambia.
The violence is largely blamed on the governing UPND.
Violence reared its ugly head again in Western Province on Tuesday.
UPND supporters allegedly stoned the motorcade of Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu.
Supporters of the same party also allegedly attacked local parliamentary candidate Ibrahim Kabwe Mwamba, injuring several people, including musician Clifford Dimba, better known as General Kanene.
Dimba was admitted to hospital.
Several police officers were also injured.
Hichilema condemned the violence, but critics questioned the sincerity of his remarks, arguing that he failed to directly rebuke his supporters over the incidents.
“The reports of political violence from certain parts of the country are deeply concerning and are condemned in the strongest possible terms,” Hichilema said late on Tuesday.
He added: “Let it be clear that violence, intimidation or lawlessness by any political party, candidate or supporter will not be tolerated. Every political party has the lawful right to campaign within the period allocated by the Electoral Commission of Zambia.”
– CAJ News