Court, Not ECZ, Decides



Civil society urges the Commission to follow the law and resist political pressure

By Francis Maingaila ♥️ 
Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (18-01-2026) - A consortium of civil society organisations has urged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to reject calls by UPND aspiring candidate Morgan Muunda to overturn Bright Nundwe’s nomination for Chawama Constituency, stressing that such disputes must be resolved in the courts, not by the Commission.

Consortium Deputy Chairperson Solomon Ngoma told Zambia24 in a statement that the ECZ Act does not grant the Commission powers to annul a candidate’s nomination.

Ngoma explained that the law provides a clear remedy for nomination disputes: filing an election petition within fourteen days under Sections 100(3) and 96(1)(a) of the Electoral Process Act. 

He warned that pressuring the ECZ to act outside its mandate is unlawful and could threaten constitutional order.

He also noted that the Commission’s powers under Section 76 are limited to correcting tabulation errors within seven days after results are declared and do not extend to revisiting nominations.

On claims that candidates must be registered voters in the constituency they wish to contest, Ngoma said this is a matter for the Constitutional Court. 

“Neither the Constitution nor the Electoral Process Act requires it,” he explained.

Ngoma urged the ECZ to safeguard its integrity by strictly following the law and reminded all aspiring candidates that political ambition must never override legal rules.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

A Brother, A Leader, A Lesson

Image
 Bishop Mwamba’s Tribute to Lungu Lusaka, Zambia24, Thursday, June 5, 2025 – United National Independence Party (UNIP) President Bishop Trevor Mwamba has paid tribute to the late Sixth Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, describing him as a man of the people, a personal friend, and a national figure whose life and leadership offer Zambia both memory and lesson. In a statement delivered Thursday, Bishop Mwamba extended condolences to the Lungu family, the Patriotic Front, and the entire nation, while encouraging citizens to reflect not only on the man Lungu was, but on the legacy he leaves behind. “I, Bishop Trevor Mwamba, extend my sincere sympathies to the Lungu family, the Patriotic Front, and the Zambian people on the passing of His Excellency Edgar Chagwa Lungu,” he said.  “As President of UNIP, I also convey our party’s deep condolences at this moment of national loss.” Recalling Lungu as his former classmate, Mwamba spoke warmly of the former president’s personal qualities—h...
Read more

Bishops Decry DEC Summons

Image
ZCCB Warns Against Using State Institutions to Silence Church Leaders By Francis Maingaila ♥️ Lusaka, Zambia24  --- (3-01-2026) - The Zambia Conference of Catholic Bishops (ZCCB) has condemned in the strongest terms the Drug Enforcement Commission’s (DEC) summons of Lusaka Archbishop Alick Banda, describing it as a brazen attempt to intimidate the Church and silence its voice on governance. ZCCB President Archbishop Ignatius Chama said in a statement that the Bishops stand in unwavering solidarity with Archbishop Banda, who is scheduled to appear before the Anti-Money Laundering Investigations Unit of the DEC on 5 January 2026.  The summons, delivered on 31 December 2025, comes amid a wave of public attacks and derogatory remarks against the Archbishop. The Bishops labelled the DEC action as unmistakably state-sponsored harassment, designed to punish Archbishop Banda for speaking truth to power and holding the government accountable.  Bishop Chama warned that weaponizing state institut...
Read more

Breaking Silence, Saving Lives

Image
Journalists Join Safe Motherhood Fight and are challenging taboos to protect women’s health. By Francis Maingaila Lusaka, Zambia24 — (20-05-2025) - The Ministry of Health convened a critical media orientation in Lusaka to commemorate Safe Motherhood Week and the International Day to End Obstetric Fistula, emphasizing renewed efforts to improve maternal health outcomes across Zambia. The event brought together media professionals, health experts, and key stakeholders to amplify messages on safe maternal health services and the urgent need to end obstetric fistula. In his keynote address, Dr. Aspha S. Choonga stressed the pivotal role of the media in advocating for women’s rights to safe, dignified, and respectful maternal health care. “Your presence here today is not just appreciated—it is vital,” Dr. Choonga said, urging media practitioners to break taboos and inform the public on these critical issues. He outlined the four pillars of Safe Motherhood: family planning, antenatal care, c...
Read more