We need fresh elections – Thandiwe Ngoma

By BARNABAS ZULU

POLITICAL commentator Thandiwe Ketiš Ngoma has backed Green Party president Peter Sinkamba’s call for fresh general elections, alleging that the 2026 electoral process had been marred by irregularities, violence and interference by State security agencies.

Ms Ngoma said the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) should either publish authentic and verifiable election results or organise fresh elections under international supervision.

“Power in a constitutional republic derives exclusively from the free, transparent, and uncoerced consent of the governed,” she said.

Ms Ngoma alleged that the electoral process had been compromised by ballot theft, violence at polling and tallying centres, and the suppression of opposition representatives.

“In polling stations across the country – most notoriously in Mandevu Constituency – ruling UPND cadres violently snatched marked ballot papers while armed police officers stood by,” she alleged.

She also claimed that teargas had been fired inside an enclosed vote-counting facility in Kabwe, forcing observers, party agents and election workers to flee.

“The ECZ imposed an abrupt, six-hour operational blackout, freezing the declaration of presidential results nationwide,” Ms Ngoma alleged.

She also accused State security agencies of interferring with the electoral process and claimed that opposition representatives had been assaulted and detained after questioning the results.

Ms Ngoma also made allegations concerning the death of former Transport and Communications Minister and Lunte Member of Parliament Mutotwe Kafwaya during a security operation at a residence in Kabulonga linked to opposition presidential candidate Brian Mundubile.

She claimed that the incident and subsequent arrests of opposition figures demonstrated the use of State institutions to suppress political dissent.

Ms Ngoma also accused the judiciary of denying the opposition an opportunity to challenge the election results within the constitutionally prescribed period.

“The sovereign citizens of Zambia do not owe an ounce of allegiance to anusurped office,” she said.

She demanded the cancellation of the election results and fresh general elections under international supervision.

Ms Ngoma also called for the release of opposition leaders she described as political prisoners and an independent international investigation into Mr Kafwaya’s death.

“Until democratic accountability is restored, the opposition political leaders are freed, and justice rolls down like waters, Hakainde Hichilema will be remembered not as a democratically elected leader, but as an illegitimate occupier of power,” she said.

Ends.