How Zambia’s state machinery tilted the playing field before Thursday’s vote- Amb Emmanuel Mwamba

As Zambia counts down to a crucial general election, critical voices within the political landscape have raised serious questions concerning the neutrality of state institutions and the overall fairness of the electoral environment. Writing on the eve of the vote, prominent political figure and diplomat Ambassador Emmanuel Mwamba argued that the integrity of an election is defined long before citizens cast their ballots on polling day, pointing to months of prior restrictions, selective enforcement of the law, and administrative hurdles faced by opposition actors. At the heart of these concerns is the accusation that neutral state apparatuses—including law enforcement agencies, public prosecution services, and regulatory bodies—have increasingly favored the ruling party administration. Critics and civil society groups have repeatedly flagged the implementation of legacy legislation such as the Public Order Act, asserting that provisions originally designed for public safety have been co-opted into a restrictive permission system. Opposition figures and independent commentators argue that campaign rallies are frequently obstructed or delayed under administrative pretexts, severely constraining freedom of assembly and stifling robust political discourse across the country. Furthermore, governance watchdogs have expressed apprehension regarding the conduct of public officials and state functionaries during the campaign period. Regulations governing the public service explicitly mandate political neutrality, yet allegations persist that state resources and personnel have been indirectly leveraged to project incumbent achievements while curtailing opposition outreach. Such systemic imbalances, analysts warn, risk eroding public trust in democratic institutions and undermining the foundational principle of a level electoral playing field. In response to these allegations, government representatives and ruling party defenders maintain that democratic tenets remain fully