VOTE-BUYING SCAM INVOLVING PETAUKE DC EXPOSED
…as Socialist Party calls for the arrest of the culprits
Petauke… Sunday February 2, 2025
A scam in which Petauke District Commissioner (DC) Martha Mulenga is involved in vote-buying ahead of the Parliamentary by-election has been unearthed.
Some concerned residents, including women in Petauke, have disclosed that the DC on Friday called for a meeting at Minga Primary School where she allegedly promised to give out money to unsuspecting women and the aged in exchange for voting the UPND candidate.
The women who attended the meeting disclosed that Ms. Mulenga asked for their national registration cards (NRCs) and voters cards to get their details so that she could facilitate payment once they voted for the UPND candidate.
They further disclosed that the DC warned them that they risked being blacklisted from accessing Social Cash Transfer and other government empowerment programs if they will not vote for the UPND candidate.
In reaction to the revelation by the concerned residents, Socialist Party (SP) Secretary for elections Pastor Fred Chanda has called for the arrest of the DC.
Pastor Chanda says the party is expecting the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) and the Zambia Police to take action against the DC for her criminal activity.
He explains that vote-buying was a criminal offence according to the Electoral Code of Conduct.
“Anything to do with vote-buying is not a conflict, it is a crime according to the electoral code of conduct. So, we expect the culprits to be arrested,” Mr. Chanda said.