IN CASE YOU HAVE MISSED IT:
TONSE DEFIES ECZ DIRECTIVE, SAYS EASTERN PROVINCE CAMPAIGNS WILL PROCEED
…Alliance accuses ECZ of unfairness, demands withdrawal of advisory note
The Tonse Pamodzi Alliance has announced that its scheduled presidential campaign rallies in Eastern, Muchinga and Northern provinces will proceed as planned despite a recent advisory issued by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) seeking to reorganize presidential campaign activities.
In a statement issued by Presidential Spokesperson KMG Chisanga, the alliance expressed concern over the ECZ Advisory Note dated June 18, 2026, which cited an alleged lack of order in the conduct of presidential campaigns and indicated that a new official campaign timetable would be introduced.
The alliance questioned the basis of the ECZ’s concerns, arguing that the Commission had not identified any specific breaches of campaign regulations by presidential candidates.
“The Presidential candidates have not been pointed to any specific violations or infractions they have committed to justify the statements made in the advisory,” Chisanga stated.
The alliance said its campaign teams had already been deployed to various parts of the country in accordance with the existing ECZ campaign schedule and guidelines, making it impractical and costly to abruptly suspend activities and recall teams to Lusaka.
According to Tonse, campaign preparations for Eastern, Muchinga and Northern provinces were already at an advanced stage when the advisory was issued.
The opposition alliance further accused the ECZ of acting without adequate consultation and claimed the directive could undermine the principles of a free, fair and credible election.
The statement also alleged unequal application of electoral rules, arguing that President and ruling party candidate Hakainde Hichilema continues to travel and engage voters across the country without similar restrictions.
“What makes this advisory wholly unjustified is that it has been issued at a time when the Republican President is moving freely around the country and engaging electorates,” the statement read.
Tonse has called on the ECZ to withdraw the advisory and engage stakeholders more broadly before implementing major changes to campaign arrangements.
Despite its objections, the alliance confirmed that its representatives would attend the stakeholders’ meeting called by the ECZ, with presidential candidate Brian Mundubile expected to be represented by duly appointed electoral agents.
The Electoral Commission has yet to publicly respond to the concerns raised by the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance.