Authorities Threaten to Postpone Elections

Electoral and health authorities have warned of the possibility of postponing the country’s August 12 general elections as a result of increased COVID-19 cases.

Zambia National Professional Health Institute director, Professor Victor Mukonka, said the third wave of the virus may encourage electoral authorities to postpone the election.

Chief Elections Officer Mr Patrick Nshindano reiterated this, warning that elections may need to be rescheduled if the third wave continues. 

“If this [covid-19 infection rate] becomes uncontrollable, the state of emergency will then be applied and we’ll not be able to conduct elections,” he said.

In spite of this, there is concern that postponing the elections will be undemocratic, as outlined by constitutional lawyer Mr John Sangwa. 

“Postponing of the elections is not debatable, they have to take place whether you like it or not,” Mr Sangwa said recently during a radio interview.

Rising cases within the country follows President Lungu’s failure to obtain COVID-19 vaccines as fast as other African countries. Subsequently, 1,1,64 cases of the virus were recorded on Saturday.

The threat of postponing the August general elections also appears to be a second attempt by President Edgar Lungu to remain in power for a questionable third term, after his call to end political rallies at one of his own rallies recently.

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