ECZ SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON NRPUP WITHDRAWAL AND LUMEZI NORTH BY-ELECTION The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) wishes to correct misleading informationcontained in a story titled “Mwangala Zaloumis at it Again: ECZ Accused of Colluding to Block Opposition Candidates in Key By-Elections.” The allegations of collusion between the Commission and the National ReconciliationParty for […]

ECZ SETS THE RECORD STRAIGHT ON NRPUP WITHDRAWAL AND LUMEZI NORTH BY-ELECTION

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) wishes to correct misleading information
contained in a story titled “Mwangala Zaloumis at it Again: ECZ Accused of Colluding to Block Opposition Candidates in Key By-Elections.”

The allegations of collusion between the Commission and the National Reconciliation
Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) are unfounded and misrepresent the
circumstances surrounding the party’s decision not to participate in the forthcoming by-elections.

The Commission wishes to clarify that NRPUP formally communicated its decision not to
participate in the forthcoming by-elections through a letter dated 7th October 2026.
In the letter, the party informed the Commission of its decision not to participate in all the by-elections scheduled for 5th November 2026.

Further, the NRPUP requested the
Commission not to entertain, accept or process any adoption certificate that would be presented by any candidate under it’s banner.

Following receipt of the letter, the
Commission issued a notice on Wednesday, 7th October 2026, communicating the
party’s decision to the relevant District Electora I Officers and providing guidance on the handling of nominations as regards the NRPUP.

It is therefore misleading to portray the Commission’s notice as evidence of collusion or a coordinated effort to eliminate political competition.

The sequence of events must be understood in the context of NRPUP’s own written notification and the administrative
measures taken by the Commission in response.

Meanwhile, on Thursday, 8th October 2026, one of the candidates in the Lumezi
Parliamentary by-election, Mr. Nebby Manda of the Leadership Movement resigned in
line with Article 52 (6) (b) of the Constitution of Zambia.

Following this development, and
in the context of NRPUP’s formal notification that it would not participate in the by-
election, Mr. Anderson Banda of the UPND remained the only validly nominated