Election conduct, ballot rules and campaign tensions…

With Zambia now three days away from the August 13 general election, attention has shifted sharply from campaign promises to the conduct, security and credibility of the vote itself. Political parties are entering the final stretch with disputes over ballot-marking rules, the timing of results, arrests of opposition campaign personnel and the handling of election materials increasingly shaping the national conversation. The opposition leader also demanded that election results be announced within 24 hours of the close of polling rather than beginning from August 17, as currently scheduled.

He further called on police to end what he described as a pattern of arrests and abductions targeting people associated with his campaign, citing incidents in Mongu, Western Province and on the Copperbelt. The ballot-marking dispute has emerged as one of the most contested procedural issues in the closing days of the campaign. UPND’sTrevor Mwiindeand DPP’sAntonio Mwanzahave defended the ECZ position that a ballot can remain valid where a voter’s intention is clearly expressed, even if the mark used is not a conventional cross.

Historian DrSishuwa Sishuwaand PeP’sChanda Katotobwe, however, maintain that Regulation 33(d) requires voters to use an X. They have warned that introducing or emphasising alternative ballot markings so close to polling day could create confusion among voters and disputes over the interpretation of ballots during counting. The disagreement over election procedures has already spilled into confrontation on the ground.

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Police fired tear gas in Kabwe on Friday night to disperse UPND and Tonse-PF Pamodzi Alliance cadres who clashed following concerns over a missing security seal on a truck transporting election materials. Electoral officerLiftery Ndabasubsequently restricted access to the Civic Centre to accredited political party representatives as election materials continued to be verified ahead of Thursday’s polls. The move is intended to allow the verification process to proceed in a controlled environment as political parties closely monitor the handling of ballot papers and other sensitive materials.

Arrests and detentions involving opposition campaign personnel have added another layer of tension. Former Nkana MPBinwell Mpunducondemned the continued detention without charge of 17 people linked toMundubile’scampaign, including musicians and journalists arrested in Mongu. Mpundualso moved to distance himself from remarks circulating online claiming that he was “ready to die and ready to kill” over the election.

He said the material was AI-generated and maintained that he had never posted or made the statement attributed to him. Government officials, meanwhile, have sought to project calm as campaigning approaches its conclusion. Attorney GeneralMulilo Kabeshaurged Zambians to exercise their right to vote peacefully and reject political violence, hate speech and inflammatory rhetoric, including messages coming from political and religious figures.

The Ministry of Defence has also said the military stands ready to support efforts to maintain peace if called upon, while State House Chief Communications SpecialistClayson Hamasakaclarified that PresidentHichilemahas no authority to direct police officers to arrest individuals. He also said many of the President’s provincial engagements are official government visits and should not automatically be treated as political campaign activities.

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