August polls left a divided Zambia, says Lubinda

By NATION REPORTER GIVEN Lubinda has called for a post-election national dialogue that should be focused on transparency, constitutional rights and the rule of law, stating that the country should emerge from the 2026 election more united and confident in its institutions of governance. Mr Lubinda, the former Justice Minister says elections were meant to determine who should govern the nation but did not remove the constitutional rights of citizens who disagree with those in power. He said the 2026 general election was held, with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) announcing the Presidential result, for which it had declared President Hakainde Hichilema winner and he was later sworn in for his second term. “Government belongs to the people. So, do opposition political parties, civil society organisations, faith-based organisations and every other lawful organisation operating within our constitutional order. No individual, no political party and no institution has a greater claim to Zambia than any other citizen,” Mr Lubinda. Mr Lubinda explained that while an election could determine who should govern the nation, it did not determine who belonged to the nation and how citizens should vote for their preferred leaders. “An election may determine who exercises governmental authority. It does not determine who belongs to the nation. There must be no culture of permanent victors and permanent vanquished,” he said “There must be no politics in which winning an election is treated as ownership of the Republic, or losing an election is treated as the loss of one’s citizenship, dignity or constitutional rights,” Mr Lubinda said. On electoral disputes, Mr Lubinda said grievances must follow the law and that those in power should never cartail the constitutional rights of those who were aggrived by the outcome of the election. “ Where a candidate, political party or citizen believes that an electoral irregularity has occurred, the response must be evidence, law and lawful process. The proper course is to gather the evidence, invoke the mechanisms established by the Constitution and electoral law, and allow the competent institutions to determine the matter,” he said. His statement also addressed contentious issues arising from the election period, including the closure of the courts during the presidential election petition window, arrests over alleged national-security offences, the death of former Transport and Communications Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya and the recent arrest of Lusaka Archbishop Dr Alick Banda.

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