HOW MAZOKA STORMED ECZ CHAIRPERSON JUDGE BOBBY BWALYA’S RESIDENCE IN THE NIGHT AND DEMANDED TO BE DECLARED WINNER
JUDGE BOBBY BWALYA: “I Was Paid Handsomely, But Not for Rigging Elections”
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An excerpt from the newly released book: Conversations with Memorable Personalities, Part 2 (2026) by Amos Malupenga (Pages 66 – 67).
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The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has always been accused of rigging elections for the ruling party. The dramatic 2001 election was no exception.
Many accused the late ECZ chairperson, Judge Bobby Bwalya, of robbing opposition leader Anderson Mazoka of victory to favour Levy Mwanawasa (MMD).
The results were tight:
• Mwanawasa: 506,694 votes (29.15%)
• Mazoka: 472,697 votes (27.20%)
The Supreme Court later agreed the poll was flawed, but ruled in 2005 that the errors did not change the final result.
THE DRAMATIC NIGHT OF DECEMBER 28, 2001
As a young journalist, I watched an angry Mazoka and his team – deep into the night – storm Judge Bobby Bwalya’s residence in Woodlands, Lusaka. They accused him of stealing the election.
They pressured the para military officer so hard that the Judge had to come outside in the dark.
Mazoka demanded to be declared the winner right there and then.
He warned that protests would burn across the country if the Judge refused.
With judicial calmness, Judge Bwalya stood his ground. He told Mazoka to visit his office the next day and firmly denied the rigging.
THE MANSION ACCUSATIONS
Three years later, rumours spread that Judge Bwalya had built a massive mansion using bribe money from that election.
The Judge invited me to tour his new house on Katima Mulilo Road in Olympia. He set the record straight:
“I was paid handsomely but not for rigging elections,” he said.
He explained that his money came from official government contracts and legal gratuity.
“The records are there at the Commission… That is why I have been able to build a house.”
For more details on this and other fascinating conversations, grab your copy today from Bookworld or directly from the author.
Picture: (From left) Judge Bobby Bwalya, former Finance Minister the late Alexander Chikwanda, and former CBU Chancellor Prof. Muyunda Mwanalushi arrive at State House during a state function. Far right is veteran photojournalist, the late Eddie Mwanaleza.