Chinsali MP denies poll irregularities

POLITICS

By Lusaka Times — Lusaka Times

Chinsali MP denies poll irregularities
Chinsali Central Member of Parliament Chanda Mwansa has vehemently denied accusations of electoral malpractice, violence, and vote buying leveled against his camp following the fiercely contested August 13, 2026, general elections. Speaking in response to mounting murmurs and petitions from rival factions, Mr. Mwansa insisted that his triumph at the polls was a genuine reflection of the electorate's will and dismissed claims of irregularities as the desperate maneuvers of sore losers unable to accept democratic defeat. The parliamentary race in Chinsali Central drew significant political attention across Muchinga Province, culminating in high-stakes mobilization by various political formations. Following the announcement of the official results by the Electoral Commission of Zambia, concerns regarding the integrity of the local ballot emerged from opposition camps, pointing to alleged incidents of intimidation and financial inducement during the campaign period. These claims quickly gained traction within local civic circles, prompting calls for thorough investigations by relevant oversight bodies to safeguard the credibility of the democratic process. Mr. Mwansa, representing the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP), has rejected these assertions outright, maintaining that his campaign operated strictly within the confines of the electoral code of conduct. He emphasized that his extensive grassroots mobilization and community engagement strategies were the true drivers behind his decisive victory. According to the legislator, attempts to cast a shadow over his mandate are calculated political attacks designed to distract from the developmental agenda he promised constituents during the buildup to the August polls. Legal and electoral experts note that post-election disputes are a common feature of Zambia's competitive political landscape, serving as both a test of institutional resilience and a mechanism for accountability. The Electora