NRPUP engaged in widespread vote buying, intimidation, court hears
The Malambo West parliamentary election turned into something of a political overnight camp, with the Chipata High Court hearing that opposition cadres allegedly spent the night at polling stations, intimidated voters and engaged in vote buying ahead of the August 13 General Election.
Former Eastern Province Minister Peter Phiri told the court that the election was marred by violence, intimidation and alleged attempts to influence voters, leaving some polling stations looking less like places for peaceful voting and more like political camping grounds.
Mr Phiri, who is challenging the election of National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) candidate Patrick Mwale, said supporters of the opposition party allegedly occupied polling stations on the eve of the election.
He told the court that more than 100 opposition supporters were deployed to spend the night at various polling stations across Malambo West Constituency.
According to Mr Phiri, the cadres were allegedly instructed to remain at the polling stations and intimidate voters who had already made up their minds about who they wanted to vote for.
“My Lady, allowing the cadres to spend the night in the polling stations happened across all 34 polling stations,” Mr Phiri said.
He claimed that the alleged occupation of the polling stations was accompanied by threats and intimidation, particularly against supporters of the United Party for National Development (UPND).
And if the allegations are anything to go by, election eve in Malambo West was not exactly a quiet affair.
Mr Phiri told the court that some UPND members were allegedly beaten and stoned at Chifunda Polling Station.
“My Lady, we even had incidents of our UPND members being stoned and beaten at a polling station called Chifunda,” he said.
He further alleged that Mr Mwale and his agents were involved in vote buying, while their supporters allegedly spent the night at polling stations to intimidate voters.
The former minister also told the court that opposition members deployed at polling stations allegedly went as far as searching Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officers on the eve of polling.
In other words, according to the testimony, election security had allegedly acquired a rather informal interpretation, with political cadres apparently taking an interest in who and what was entering polling stations.
Mr Phiri, who is also UPND Eastern Province chairperson, said opposition members allegedly guarded rooms where election materials were stored before polling day.
He argued that such conduct undermined the credibility of the election and asked the court to nullify the results.
Mr Phiri also explained what he meant when he repeatedly referred to “our voters”.
“My Lady, what I mean by ‘our voters’ are those individuals in our society who had made up their minds to come and vote for me, Peter Simon Phiri, and the political party I stood on, the UPND,” he said.
He further named several polling stations where he claimed ruling party supporters were allegedly threatened or discouraged from turning up to vote.
The allegations are contained in Mr Phiri’s challenge to Mr Mwale’s election as Member of Parliament for Malambo West.
Mr Mwale is the first respondent in the matter, while the Electoral Commission of Zambia is the second respondent.
Mr Mwale was declared duly elected after polling 6,574 votes, beating Mr Phiri, who received 4,967 votes.
Mr Phiri has lined up 15 witnesses to testify in support of his petition, meaning the court can expect considerably more detail about what happened before, during and after polling day.
For now, the allegations remain allegations, with the respondents yet to have their full opportunity to respond and the court yet to determine whether the claimed irregularities actually affected the election result.
The trial is continuing.