“Let’s be our brothers’ keepers; we are family after elections,” says FDD member Clinton Kaseya.
By Gibson Zulu
Nearly two months after an attack disrupted the counting of parliamentary election results in Mandevu Constituency, voters are preparing to return to the polls. But concerns remain over whether their votes will be secure this time.
Ahead of the November 5, 2026 by-election, young voters and civic leaders are demanding stronger security, transparent vote counting and timely announcement of results to prevent a repeat of August’s events.
Speaking at a youth conference organised by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) at St. Paul’s UCZ Church in Kabwata, Lusaka, on 10 October, Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) member Clinton Kaseya called for political tolerance, urging participants not to allow political differences to divide their communities.
The conference brought together young people, older community members, representatives of political parties, civil society and faith-based organisations, as well as officers from the Zambia Police Service.
An election disrupted
Mandevu’s August 13 parliamentary election ended without a declared winner after unknown individuals attacked the results-totalling centre, destroyed transmission kits and fled with election documents.
In an August 28 statement, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro said the incident prevented the returning officer from declaring results, forcing the Commission to order a fresh election.
The approaching vote has renewed questions about security and the handling of election materials.
Fears over security and transparency
Hamanzi Shamitaba, a former polling agent at Lusaka City Council’s Housing Department, called for increased police deployment, warning that inadequate security could leave polling stations vulnerable to violence.
“Each polling station should have at least 20 or 30 police officers. Two officers cannot contain 20 or more cadres,” he said.
He also urged ECZ to provide sufficient Gen 20 results forms and ensure results are announced without unnecessary delays.
Ivy Nabeya, communications lead at Girls Gone Political, encouraged women to turn out in large numbers, while Dzuka Cholinga Youth Zambia executive director Clinton Mfula called for adequate protection of election observers.
A test of public confidence
Opening the conference, Assistant District Electoral Officer Victor Kagoli confirmed that voting would take place on November 5, with campaigns ending at 18:00 hours on November 4.
He urged young people to reject violence, intimidation and hate speech, warning against being used by political parties to disrupt elections.
But beyond appeals for peace, questions remain about what ECZ and the Zambia Police Service have done to prevent another disruption.
Have security arrangements been strengthened? Will election materials be adequately protected? And can voters expect results without unnecessary delays?
For Mandevu residents, November 5 will be more than another election. It will test whether the institutions entrusted with protecting their votes can restore public confidence.
And as Kaseya reminded fellow voters, political differences should not divide neighbours who must continue living together long after the campaigns end.
