from ARNOLD MULENGA in Lusaka, Zambia
Zambia Bureau
LUSAKA, (CAJ News) – EXCEPT for previous, short-lived military mutinies or failed coup attempts, the Zambian defence establishment has steered clear of partisan politics.
However, the Southern African country is experiencing an unprecedented moment ahead of Thursday’s watershed election, as political temperatures rise.
Severe violence, counter-accusations of vote rigging, tribal slurs and allegations of the closure of democratic space have marred the run-up to the poll.
Public statements by retired and serving defence members underline how the electoral period has become toxic, threatening the polling process and the overall stability of the country.
In a recent address to political parties, State and law-enforcement agencies, the electoral commission and citizens, some retired generals condemned the deadly violence and called on all stakeholders to act.
“We unequivocally and unreservedly condemn all forms of political violence, regardless of the individuals or groups responsible,” they stated.
“No Zambian should suffer intimidation, injury or death for exercising their constitutional rights, including the freedom to associate with and support a political party or candidate of their choice. Human life is sacred and must be protected at all times.”
These retired members, including Brig. Gen. Chapula, Lt. Gen. Paul Mihova and Lt. Col. Prof. Naison Ngoma, appealed to all stakeholders to ensure a credible electoral process.
“As concerned, patriotic and loyal citizens, we look forward to peaceful, free and fair elections that reflect the will of the Zambian people and preserve our country’s democratic legacy.”
Earlier, Zambia’s defence and security wings had issued warnings against the abuse of artificial intelligence (AI) and social media, citing the rapid spread of deceptive deepfakes, fabricated videos and manipulated content intended to defame State leaders, incite security forces and destabilise peace ahead of the elections.
Brian Polombwe, a Lusaka-based political analyst, said: “When retired military brass step out of the shadows to publicly weigh in on domestic political friction, it signals a deep level of anxiety among the elite regarding the State’s stability.”
According to the analyst, the election skirmishes have transformed from a standard law-and-order issue into a national security crisis.
“Ultimately, the retired military’s intervention is a symptom of high political stress, but it functions more as a fire alarm to wake up civilian leadership than a precursor to military rule,” he added.
While the possibility of military rule is far-fetched, Zambia suffered failed coup attempts in 1990 and 1997 by Lt. Mwamba Luchembe and Captain Stephen Lungu respectively. Both were swiftly suppressed by loyal security forces.
The pre-poll violations underline how this is shaping up to be the most fiercely contested election since the advent of multiparty democracy 35 years ago.
Some political campaigns have resulted in a number of deaths around the country.
The main opposition Tonse Alliance (Tonse translates as ‘Coalition’) blames supporters of the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) of incumbent President Hakainde Hichilema.
The weekend murder of prominent businessman Stelios Shula Sardanis, 64, has heightened tensions.
The opposition alleges that he was killed for supporting independent candidate Gary Nkombo, who has fallen out with the UPND, and opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile.
Police reports indicate that he was murdered following a home invasion by 15 men who stormed his residence within the premises of his Chaminuka Luxury Lodge and Game Reserve.
Valden Harry Findlay, a businessman based in Lusaka, has been in detention without charge for a week.
According to critics, this is because he is alleged to be funding the opposition.
The Findlay family broke its silence after he was allegedly removed from police custody on Monday and transported in an unmarked vehicle to an undisclosed location.
“When family members attempted to follow the vehicle to ascertain his whereabouts, they were threatened with arrest,” it stated.
The family reports that he has been denied medical attention.
However, according to the ruling party, “The political violence talked about by the Tonse groups is mere talk. It is their own fashion; it doesn’t exist.”
There has been confusion on the eve of the election regarding the marking and validity of ballot papers.
This centres on the use of an “X”, as stipulated in Zambia’s electoral regulations governing the procedure for casting a vote, and whether a tick (✓) is acceptable.
The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), accused by critics and the opposition of lacking impartiality, clarified the position.
Brown Kasaro, Chief Electoral Officer, said the provision required a voter to mark the ballot paper in a manner that clearly indicates the candidate the voter wishes to vote for.
“The law does not prescribe a cross as the only mark that may be used,” he said.
Kasaro noted that the regulation providing that a ballot marked otherwise than by a cross should not be rejected simply because a different mark has been used, provided the voter’s intention is clear and the mark did not identify the voter.
“Voters are instructed to use a cross, but the absence of a cross does not, by itself, make a ballot invalid. What matters is whether the voter’s intention is clear and the ballot meets the requirements for validity.”
However, academic Dr Sishuwa Sishuwa cautioned voters against using a tick or other markings, lest their ballot papers be rejected as spoilt.
“A tick or any mark other than a cross on a ballot results in a spoilt ballot. That is the position of the law ahead of Thursday’s general election,” he differed.
The Anti-Corruption Commission of Zambia has warned citizens against offering or accepting bribes to influence an electoral decision.
Following the winds of change sweeping through much of Southern Africa, Hichilema and the UPND must avoid becoming the latest casualties of disillusioned citizens voting ruling parties out of power.
He was elected in 2021, at his sixth attempt, as an opposition leader.
Hichilema, 64, has experienced mixed fortunes as Zambia’s seventh president since independence from Britain in 1964.
His term has focused on structural reforms aimed at economic recovery, social development and institutional governance, including the negotiated restructuring of more than US$6 billion in foreign debt, saving the country around $5.8 billion in debt-service obligations.
During the period, the economy has grown from a recession of -2.8 per cent to an estimated 4.3 per cent growth in 2026, according to the International Monetary Fund (IMF), while inflation has dropped from 22 per cent to single-digit figures.
The economy is diversifying from an over-reliance on copper.
The energy situation has improved after years of power cuts.
The Government has abolished primary and secondary tuition fees, resulting in more than 2.5 million learners returning to school.
Thousands of previously unemployed teachers and healthcare workers have been allocated positions.
Another milestone is the reintroduction of student meal allowances and the expansion of access to university bursaries.
Hichilema and the UPND are using these achievements as a trump card for re-election.
At a final rally, he said the Government had created one million jobs during its five years in office.
“It’s for these reasons we are calling upon Zambians to rally behind his leadership by re-electing him, for demonstrating a strong commitment to promoting citizens’ welfare across the country,” Spiki Mulemwa, UPND regional presidential campaign coordinator, appealed.
However, Hichilema’s term has not been free from controversy and accusations of dictatorship.
A long-running feud with the family of his predecessor, Edgar Lungu, has damaged his and the Government’s image. It is feared this could dent their election hopes.
Lungu, whom he defeated in the last election, remains unburied, with his remains not repatriated more than a year after he died in South Africa, where he had sought medical treatment.
The Lungus secured a victory in South African courts over the decision on his burial. It remains unclear whether they will proceed with the burial in South Africa, as previously planned, or opt for a private interment in Zambia.
Critics point out that Zambia is going down a path towards dictatorship following Hichilema’s firing of some Constitutional Court judges, reportedly for being unsympathetic to him during his time as an opposition leader.
The enactment of cybercrime laws has also been denounced as a ploy to stifle criticism.
In 2025, crowds and stone-throwers forced him to cut short a public address amid frustration over local mining issues and economic pressure.
Brian Mundubile, 55, a lawyer and former provincial minister, has emerged as the main challenger.
Like the ruling party, his campaigns have attracted massive crowds, pointing to a very close contest on Thursday.
Tonse’s campaign has lately focused on democratisation, particularly after the alleged abduction of some senior members and a spokesperson in Lusaka.
“Zambia belongs to all of us. We cannot normalise abductions, intimidation and the use of armed men against citizens,” Mundubile said.
The Patriotic Front (PF), dislodged in 2021, is a member of Tonse. Its current leader, Makebi Zulu, 44, is Mundubile’s running mate and lawyer to the Lungu family during its fallout with Hichilema’s Government.
The opposition coalition is marketing itself as “pro-poor”, compared with the current administration’s market-led fiscal strategies. Hichilema’s re-election campaign is reportedly backed by corporates — he is cited as Zambia’s wealthiest individual — but such reports have been denied.
Harry Kalaba, 50, a former foreign affairs minister, is a dark horse representing the Orange Alliance.
A total of 14 presidential candidates are on the ballot.
More than 8.7 million Zambians are registered to vote, up from seven million in 2021. More than four million registered voters are young people, either unemployed or in volatile informal jobs such as artisanal mining.
Zambia’s total population is estimated at 22.5 million.
– CAJ News