Statement by Victor NYASULU 2026 Lusaka Mayoral Candidate – Citizen First (CF)
Subject: Concern Over the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s Handling of the 17 April 2026 Engagement with Senior Party Officials
I wish to express my deep concern regarding the manner in which the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) organized and conducted the meeting held on 17 April 2026 with senior political party officials.
As a mayoral candidate in Lusaka under the Citizen First (CF) banner, and as a committed stakeholder in Zambia’s democratic process, I find the developments surrounding this meeting both regrettable and instructive of broader institutional weaknesses that must be urgently addressed.
1. Recognition of Multiple Party Factions
It is highly concerning that the ECZ allowed the participation of more than one faction from at least two political parties, namely United National Independence Party (UNIP) and National Democratic Congress (NDC).
Such an occurrence raises serious questions about the Commission’s verification processes and its ability to uphold clarity and order in political party representation. In a democratic system, the electoral body must act as a stabilizing force—not an inadvertent enabler of confusion or intra-party disputes.
Allowing multiple factions into a formal engagement risks:
* Legitimizing internal party conflicts
* Undermining institutional credibility
* Creating unnecessary disorder in national electoral processes
The ECZ must ensure that only duly recognized and constitutionally validated leadership structures of political parties are engaged in official platforms.
2. Unacceptable Time Management and Procedural Lapses
Equally troubling is the fact that a meeting scheduled for 09:00 hours reportedly commenced an hour later. For a national electoral body entrusted with managing complex, time-sensitive electoral processes, such delays are unacceptable.
Time discipline is not a trivial administrative matter—it is a reflection of:
* Institutional seriousness
* Respect for stakeholders
* Preparedness for larger electoral operations
If the ECZ cannot maintain punctuality in a scheduled high-level meeting, legitimate concerns arise regarding its readiness to manage national electoral timelines, including nominations, polling logistics, and results transmission.
The Bigger Picture: Institutional Credibility at Stake
Zambia’s democracy depends heavily on the perceived and actual integrity of its electoral institutions. The ECZ must, at all times, demonstrate:
* Administrative competence
* Procedural clarity
* Political neutrality
* Professional discipline
Any lapse—however small it may appear—erodes public confidence and provides fertile ground for contestation and mistrust.
Our Call
I therefore respectfully call upon the Electoral Commission of Zambia to:
1. Clarify the criteria used in accrediting party representatives to the said meeting
2. Establish and enforce stricter verification mechanisms for political party leadership representation
3. Institute internal accountability measures to ensure punctuality and professionalism in all official engagements
4. Reassure the Zambian people of its preparedness to deliver credible, orderly, and transparent elections in 2026
Conclusion
As stakeholders in Zambia’s democratic journey, we must hold our institutions to the highest standards—not out of hostility, but out of a shared commitment to national progress.
Lusaka—and indeed Zambia—deserves an electoral process that inspires confidence, not concern.
Issued by:
Victor Nyasulu
2026 Lusaka Mayoral Candidate
Citizen First (CF)
“Lusaka Must Work Again”