Eligibility fight Still Alive
By Francis Maingaila ♥️
Lusaka, Zambia24, -- (June 18, 2026) — The Consortium of Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance and Constitutionalism says it will continue pursuing judicial interpretation of constitutional provisions governing candidate eligibility ahead of Zambia’s 2026 General Election.
The announcement comes a day after the Constitutional Court dismissed a petition challenging the eligibility of Socialist Party presidential candidate Dr. Fred M’membe and his running mate Dolika Banda.
Speaking at a media briefing in Lusaka, Consortium Chairperson Isaac Mwanza said the court's decision to dispose of the matter on technical grounds left important constitutional questions unresolved.
“The issues we raised were not political but constitutional,” Mr Mwanza said, adding that the organisation remains committed to seeking legal clarity on electoral laws and candidate qualifications.
He said one of the cases involved more than 100 independent parliamentary candidates who reportedly had recent ties to political parties. According to Mr Mwanza, Article 51(a) of the Constitution requires independent candidates not to have been members of a political party within two months before an election.
Mr Mwanza said the Consortium had petitioned the Constitutional Court for an interpretation of the provision to ensure consistency in its application and avoid disputes in future elections.
He also confirmed that the organisation had challenged Ms Banda’s eligibility over concerns regarding educational qualifications required for elective office, stressing that the matter should be addressed through appropriate legal and institutional processes.
The Consortium maintains that its actions are intended to promote constitutional compliance, accountability and electoral integrity rather than target individual candidates or political parties.
Speaking at the same briefing, Governance, Elections, Advocacy, Research Services and Democracy Advancement (GODAZA) Executive Director Elias Mulenga said civil society has a responsibility to defend democracy and hold public leaders accountable.
Mr Mulenga said concerns surrounding candidate eligibility and compliance with constitutional requirements should be resolved through legal and institutional channels to safeguard public confidence in the electoral process.
Youth Development Organisation representative Partner Sianutuba said democratic participation depends on strong institutions and clear interpretation of electoral laws. He warned that uncertainty over candidate eligibility could undermine electoral integrity if left unresolved.
Meanwhile, Centre for Peace Research and Advocacy Executive Director Cliffton Chifuwe said questions relating to candidate qualifications and documentation should be formally investigated where necessary to ensure transparency and accountability.
GEARS Chairperson Luckson Lungu urged political parties to focus on policy issues rather than divisive rhetoric, tribal messaging and misinformation during the campaign period.
He said voters expect issue-based campaigns and clear policy proposals from candidates seeking public office.
The Consortium also announced plans to deploy election monitors across the country during the August 13, 2026 General Elections.
Consortium Secretary Arthur Muyunda said trained observers will monitor polling, vote counting and results transmission to promote transparency and public confidence in the electoral process.
He said the observers will operate independently and use a real-time reporting system to document incidents and monitor compliance with electoral laws.
Mr Muyunda called on political parties, the Electoral Commission of Zambia, security agencies and citizens to uphold peace, reject violence and respect the rule of law throughout the election period.
The Consortium said it will continue pursuing legal avenues to obtain authoritative interpretations of constitutional provisions affecting elections while issuing observation reports based on findings from its nationwide monitoring network.
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