Zambia’s Opposition Accuses President Hichilema of Tampering with Party Documents, Crushing Dissent

Zambia– Opposition leaders in Zambia have accused President Hakainde Hichilema of interfering in the internal affairs of the former ruling Patriotic Front (PF), alleging that he is using state institutions and some party members to destabilise the opposition and tighten his grip on power. The PF claims that President Hichilema is manipulating party records and structures in a calculated move to weaken the opposition ahead of the country’s general elections scheduled for August. The accusations stem from events surrounding a disputed convention allegedly held on 24 October 2023 at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre.

During the gathering, officials linked to the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) were reportedly deployed to influence the election of new PF leaders following the death of former President Edgar Lungu. At the centre of the controversy is Miles Sampa, a PF member believed to be close to President Hichilema, who was elected party president at the disputed convention. Robert Chabinga was reportedly elected as vice president.

Several senior PF members and former ministers have described the development as a betrayal of the late Edgar Lungu and an attempt to fracture the party from within. A senior PF executive who spoke to this publication alleged that the ruling party used state resources and government influence to take control of PF structures. “After President Hichilema gained legal control of the Patriotic Front, we approached the judiciary seeking justice, but our efforts proved fruitless due to what we believe is government influence over state institutions,” the official said.

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According to party insiders, Sampa later apologised to the late President Lungu through a consent judgment involving the parties. However, the judiciary allegedly failed to formalise the transition of power within the PF, further deepening internal tensions. Following reports that Sampa intended to hand back leadership to Dr Lungu, PF members accused the government of tampering with party records through the Ministry of Home Affairs.

They allege that a system was installed to manipulate the ownership and control of PF documentation, effectively placing the party under state influence. Political analysts warn that such developments risk undermining Zambia’s democratic credentials. They argue that using state machinery to weaken political opponents not only erodes institutional independence but also creates an uneven political playing field. As Zambia heads toward its August general elections, the allegations of political interference and the perceived crushing of dissent are likely to intensify debate over the country’s democratic trajectory and the credibility of its electoral process.

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