Mandevu thieves steal ECZ documents, cause fresh elections
Mandevu thieves steal ECZ documents, cause fresh elections
ELECTORATES of Mandevu Constituency will have to return to the ballot box after thieves stormed the constituency’s results totalling centre, destroyed Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) result transmission kits and disappeared with election documents.
The incident has now forced the ECZ to order a fresh parliamentary election for Mandevu Constituency following the August 13, 2026 General Elections.
According to ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro, the Commission received a report from the Lusaka District Electoral Officer dated August 18, 2026, stating that the security breach at the totalling centre.
Kasaro explained that the incident happened during the aggregation of National Assembly election results for Mandevu Constituency.
He said the criminals did not only attack the totalling centre but also destroyed the result transmission kits before making off with all the election documentation.
“The Commission received an official report from the Lusaka District Electoral Officer, dated 18th August 2026, indicating that unknown individuals attacked the totalling centre in Mandevu Constituency, destroyed the result transmission kits, and fled with all the documentation,” said Kasaro.
Kasaro said the disappearance of the election materials had rendered it impossible for the returning officer to complete the process and declare the winner of the Mandevu parliamentary election.
And in view of the serious security incident, the ECZ has resolved to conduct a fresh parliamentary election in the constituency.
“The Commission has resolved to hold a by-election for Mandevu Constituency on a date to be communicated in due course,” Kasaro stated.
This means Mandevu residents who have been eager to know their lawmaker since the August 13 general elections, will once again be required to cast their votes to determine who will represent them in the National Assembly.
The ECZ has not yet announced the date for the fresh election.
By George Musonda
Kalemba August 28, 2026