ECZ Lifts Campaign Ban In Lusaka For PF And UPND

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has lifted its partial ban on campaigning for the Patriotic Front and the United Party for National Development in Lusaka district. The two major political parties will now be able to resume physical campaigning in the capital, subject to Covid-19 restrictions. 

The ban came into effect last month following multiple reports of political violence. It initially outlawed all forms of campaigning and affected four districts: Lusaka, Mpulungu, Nakonde and Namwala. On June 29th the ECZ said campaigning could resume in three of the districts but maintained a partial ban on physical campaigning in Lusaka due to a number of incidents involving party cadres. 

Speaking at a press conference alongside leaders from the two parties and the Zambia Police, chief electoral officer Patrick Nshindano reiterated that political violence must not be allowed to undermine the integrity of August’s elections. 

“We can see the cordial relationship that has been existing in leaders of the political parties, we hope coexistence will trickle down to the supporters and ensure that we conduct a free, fair and credible election come 12th August,” he said. 

Representatives from both parties said they were committed to maintaining peace in the lead up to the elections, with UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda saying his party would not protect anyone who wilfully disobeyed the law. 

The lifting of the campaign ban is to some extent surprising given the recent actions of party cadres in the capital. Yesterday, UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema shared images of suspected PF cadres attacking an opposition billboard outside the Heroes stadium - the second time the poster had been destroyed in as many months.

HH captioned the image “We build, they destroy. Just like they have done to our economy. Vote for CHANGE for a better Zambia.” 

President Lungu was also recently criticised over his commitment to holding peaceful elections, after he skipped a landmark peace conference in Lusaka last week. The president instead sent his party’s Secretary General Davies Mwila, while he toured development projects on the Copperbelt. The UPND said it showed the president didn’t take matters of peace or national security seriously.