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Mundubile alleges military interference with Zambia ballot papers
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Zambian opposition leader and presidential candidate Brian Mundubile has alleged that the military has been deployed to some polling centres and accused soldiers of interfering with electoral materials as the country's election results remain suspended.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, Mundubile said his party had received reports that members of the military had taken control of certain polling centres and that ballot papers were allegedly being removed.
"We have received reports that members of the military have taken control of certain polling centres and that ballot forms are allegedly being removed. These reports must be addressed immediately," Mundubile said.
The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) leader said the military and other security services had no role in interfering with ballot papers or other electoral materials containing the votes of Zambian citizens.
He said electoral materials should not be treated as ordinary government documents because they represented the sovereign decisions and democratic choices of voters.
Mundubile warned that any interference by the military or state security institutions could undermine the credibility of the election and called for the allegations to be urgently investigated.
"Any interference with ballot papers or other electoral materials by the military or state security institutions would seriously undermine the credibility and integrity of the election," he said.
His allegations come amid heightened tensions surrounding Zambia's 2026 general election after the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) suspended the counting and announcement of results nationwide for 24 hours.
The ECZ said the suspension followed reports of violence targeting polling staff during the counting and announcement of results, with some incidents allegedly involving the theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes.
The Commission invoked Section 67(3) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016 and said the suspension would be reviewed within 24 hours.
The ECZ has not publicly confirmed Mundubile's allegations of military interference or provided details on the alleged removal of ballot papers from polling centres.
The opposition leader's claims add another layer of controversy to an already tense results process, with political parties awaiting the resumption of counting and official announcements.
Mundubile has previously claimed victory in the presidential election, citing his party's Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), although the claim has not been independently verified and the ECZ has not declared a winner.
The allegations of military involvement are also likely to intensify scrutiny of the security situation around the election and raise further questions about the protection of electoral materials while the counting process remains suspended.
Mundubile called for the reported incidents to be investigated immediately, stressing that ballot papers must remain protected as the legal record of the choices made by Zambian voters.
In a statement issued on Friday afternoon, Mundubile said his party had received reports that members of the military had taken control of certain polling centres and that ballot papers were allegedly being removed.
"We have received reports that members of the military have taken control of certain polling centres and that ballot forms are allegedly being removed. These reports must be addressed immediately," Mundubile said.
The National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) leader said the military and other security services had no role in interfering with ballot papers or other electoral materials containing the votes of Zambian citizens.
He said electoral materials should not be treated as ordinary government documents because they represented the sovereign decisions and democratic choices of voters.
Mundubile warned that any interference by the military or state security institutions could undermine the credibility of the election and called for the allegations to be urgently investigated.
"Any interference with ballot papers or other electoral materials by the military or state security institutions would seriously undermine the credibility and integrity of the election," he said.
The ECZ said the suspension followed reports of violence targeting polling staff during the counting and announcement of results, with some incidents allegedly involving the theft of marked ballot papers from ballot boxes.
The Commission invoked Section 67(3) of the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016 and said the suspension would be reviewed within 24 hours.
The ECZ has not publicly confirmed Mundubile's allegations of military interference or provided details on the alleged removal of ballot papers from polling centres.
The opposition leader's claims add another layer of controversy to an already tense results process, with political parties awaiting the resumption of counting and official announcements.
Mundubile has previously claimed victory in the presidential election, citing his party's Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), although the claim has not been independently verified and the ECZ has not declared a winner.
The allegations of military involvement are also likely to intensify scrutiny of the security situation around the election and raise further questions about the protection of electoral materials while the counting process remains suspended.
Mundubile called for the reported incidents to be investigated immediately, stressing that ballot papers must remain protected as the legal record of the choices made by Zambian voters.
Source - online
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