Two electoral officers in Monze arrested for deliberately swapping 571 votes meant for President Hichilema in favor of ZMP leader Kelvin Fube Bwalya

Police in Monze District have taken into custody two electoral officers stationed at Monze Boarding Secondary School, which serves as the totaling centre for Bweengwa Constituency. The arrests follow the discovery of an alleged deliberate manipulation of election results, where 571 votes cast for United Party for National Development (UPND) presidential candidate Hakainde Hichilema were reportedly redirected to Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) leader Kelvin Fube Bwalya. According to preliminary reports from the totaling centre, the discrepancy came to light during the verification of results originating from Stream 01 of Choongo Secondary School Polling Station. Electoral observers and party agents flagged the irregularities after noticing a stark mismatch between the physical constituency tallies and the figures being imputed into the system. Quick action by law enforcement officers deployed at the centre forestalled further escalation, leading to the immediate apprehension of the two suspects. The development has sent shockwaves through the political landscape, amplifying anxieties surrounding electoral integrity and administrative transparency. Tensions at various collation centres across the country have remained palpable as political parties closely monitor every stage of the vote tabulation process. Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) officials have repeatedly stressed a zero-tolerance policy towards electoral malpractice, urging staff members to uphold absolute neutrality and professional diligence. Legal experts note that manipulating election results constitutes a grave offense under Zambian electoral laws, carrying severe punitive measures designed to safeguard the democratic process. The suspects are expected to face formal criminal charges in court as investigations broaden to determine whether external actors influenced the botched swap. Stakeholders from across the political divide have called for calm, emphasizing that systemic checks and balances withi