ECZ IS NOT CREDIBLE, KATOTOBWE CHARGES
ECZ IS NOT CREDIBLE, KATOTOBWE CHARGES
…says ECZ poll staff country wide must not be involved in crime
Lusaka… Sunday August 10, 2026 (SMART EAGLES)
Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) President and former Luapula Constituency PF Member of Parliament, Eng. Chanda Katotobwe, has accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of lacking credibility, independence and autonomy ahead of the August 2026 general elections as he declares that Brian Mundubile is winning the Presidential election next week due to unprecedented overwhelming support of the Zambian people.
Eng. Katotobwe, whose presidential bid has been blocked in the 2026 election, said there were glaring inconsistencies in the manner in which the electoral body had handled PeP’s nomination and other aspects of the electoral process.
Speaking when he featured on KBN TV programme, Eng. Katotobwe alleged that the ECZ had rejected PeP’s presidential nomination on the grounds that the organisation was a church, despite having received its K100,000 nomination fee as a political party.
He questioned how the Commission could classify PeP as a church during the presidential nomination process while accepting parliamentary and ward candidates who, according to him, used the same adoption certificates and signatures of party officials.
Eng. Katotobwe cited Mawere Joshua, who was validly nominated as a PeP parliamentary candidate in Kabwata Constituency in Lusaka Province, and Penza Phillip S. in Saise Constituency in Mbala District, Northern Province.
He also cited Banda Whyford Emmanuel, who he said was accepted by the ECZ as a PeP councillor candidate for Chilongozi Ward in Sinda Constituency, Eastern Province.
“These are the same PeP documents, the same adoption certificates and the same signatures that ECZ accepted for parliamentary and council candidates but rejected when it came to the presidential nomination,” Eng Katotobwe said.
He further expressed concern over the ECZ’s decision to withdraw the Voter Verification Device (VVD) five days before polling day.
Eng. Katotobwe said the VVD had been presented throughout the electoral process as an important tool for facilitating voting by helping voters and polling officials identify the relevant page and column where a voter’s name appeared in the voters’ register promptly.
He said the device was also expected to facilitate the immediate collection and disaggregation of voter turnout data, including information on women, men, youths and persons with disabilities.
Eng. Katotobwe questioned why the ECZ would withdraw the device shortly before voting after conducting voter education involving the VVD and using public funds.
He also challenged the Commission’s announcement that the official announcement of results would only commence on August 17, 2026, arguing that results would begin emerging from August 14.
The PeP leader questioned the rationale as he rejected the holding of election results and the accreditation of stakeholders to the National Totalling Centre at Mulungushi International Conference Center which is on going is for the announcement of verified results officially.
He said stakeholders accreditated are going to Mulungushi International Conference Center to participate in the tallying of results which process shall lead to the announcement of the winner and not to watch a blank television or screen.
Eng. Katotobwe further linked his concerns about the electoral process to what he described as a broader deterioration in governance, rule of law and accountability in Zambia.
He cited the arrest of former Petauke Central Member of Parliament Emmanuel J Banda following his disappearance and subsequent discovery, questioning how you arrest a victim of abduction for allegations of an offence of many years ago but fail to arrest or give us update on the quest to bring the perpetrators of this abduction or crime to book.
He also raised concerns over Constitutional Amendment Bill Number 7, claiming that statements attributed to President Hakainde Hichilema regarding voting by five UPND members contradicted live proceedings broadcast on Parliament Television.
Eng. Katotobwe counselled ECZ polling staff deployed across the country to conduct themselves professionally and avoid any involvement in electoral malpractice.
He also urged Zambia’s educated or middle class population to participate actively in the electoral process and national political discourse by turning out to vote.
Despite his presidential bid being blocked, Katotobwe said he would vote for Tonse Alliance Presidential ticket of Brian Mundubile and Makebi Zulu.