Mundubile did not declare himself Zambia election winner

TONSE Alliance presidential spokesperson George Chisanga has rejected claims that presidential candidate Brian Mundubile declared himself the winner of Zambia's election, saying his statement was based on results from the party's Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT).

Mundubile earlier claimed that he had won the presidential election based on figures collected through the party's PVT, prompting the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to warn that declaring oneself a winner before the official announcement could constitute an offence.

However, Chisanga said Mundubile had not declared himself the winner but had merely communicated the results emerging from the party's independent tabulation exercise.

In a Facebook Live broadcast, Mundubile said the PVT results indicated that he was ahead of the other presidential candidates and raised concerns over the delay in announcing the official results.

"According to the results received and compiled through our Parallel Voter Tabulation (PVT), based on information transmitted to us from polling stations and totalling centres across the country, our tabulation indicates that we have won this election," Mundubile said.

He also warned that delays in releasing the official results could create an opportunity for interference or manipulation.

"We call for the immediate publication of the results in accordance with the law and for all stakeholders to be given access to relevant electoral records so that the will of the Zambian people is respected," he said.

Chisanga said Mundubile, a lawyer and experienced politician, was fully aware that the statutory authority to formally declare a presidential election winner did not rest with candidates or political parties.

"Mundubile is a seasoned lawyer, he's a political leader of very respectable standing. He knows the responsibility that starts and ends with his office," Chisanga said.

"He knows who has the responsibility and the statutory mandate to declare a victor in the presidential election. This responsibility resides with the returning officer for the presidential election, who at all times is the Chief Justice."

According to Chisanga, Mundubile's statement was simply an indication that the information gathered through TONSE's PVT showed him leading the presidential race based on the votes tabulated at that point.

"What Honourable Mundubile has stated is that the information that has been made available to his office by those who are carrying out a credible PVT has shown clearly that from the total votes that have been collected so far, he is ahead of all the other presidential contestants," he said.

Chisanga said Mundubile was instead calling on the ECZ to fulfil its constitutional and statutory responsibilities and ensure that the votes were protected.

"And he has called upon the ECZ to carry out the statutory mandate that they have and ensure that they protect the vote and that they don't disrupt the will of the Zambian people," he said.

Chisanga further criticised what he described as attempts to portray Mundubile's statement as an offence, particularly amid references to the possibility of treason charges.

"That is not equivalent of declaring yourself as the winner of the election," he said.

"We understand what makes these people begin to accuse a contestant in an important election, presidential election, of committing an offence, and then you choose an offence, treason."

He alleged that such accusations could be used to create a narrative aimed at undermining the rights of the presidential candidate and his supporters.

Meanwhile, President Hakainde Hichilema has called for calm and patience as the country waits for the official election results.

In a statement shared on his official Facebook page on Friday, Hichilema said reports of peace and unity across the country were encouraging as the votes continued to be processed.

"We continue to receive encouraging results and reports of peace, unity and solidarity across our country as the votes come in," Hichilema said.

"There is much in this moment to be grateful for. Let us remain peaceful, patient and patriotic as we await the official outcome from those entrusted with managing the vote."

The competing statements come as attention remains focused on the official results and the process through which the ECZ will announce the final outcome of the presidential election.