ECZ debunks Tonse’s claims of pre-marked ballots from South Africa, Dubai

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has moved swiftly to quell rising public anxiety, firmly describing as false and baseless allegations by the Tonse Alliance claiming that pre-marked presidential and parliamentary ballot papers are currently in transit through South Africa. In a strongly worded statement released ahead of the polls, ECZ Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro assured the Zambian public, political stakeholders, and international observers that the commission is not expecting any delivery of electoral materials from South Africa or Dubai. According to the electoral body, the claims originated from a letter issued by the Tonse Alliance, which alleged that ballots printed in Dubai were undergoing tampering on South African soil. Mr. Kasaro dismissed these assertions as a calculated and mischievous attempt to cause unnecessary panic, strain vital regional diplomatic relations, and undermine public confidence in the credibility of the general elections. He emphasized that all authentic ballot papers required for the polls had long been received, thoroughly verified, and securely distributed to their respective polling stations across the country. Crucially, this entire logistics and distribution chain was conducted transparently in the full view of accredited political party monitors and key stakeholders. The electoral commission has continually stressed the importance of safeguarding the integrity of Zambia's democratic processes against unverified rumors and social media misinformation. Electoral authorities pointed out that such sensationalist claims risk inciting undue tension among voters who are preparing to exercise their civic duty. Political analysts note that heightened rhetoric and conspiracy theories regarding ballot papers have occasionally surfaced during intense electoral cycles in Zambia, often designed to cast pre-emptive doubt on election outcomes. In light of these developments, the ECZ has directly challenged the leadership o