By Kapya Kaoma
HH’s victory brought smiles to many Zambians who have longed for the day when the PF cartoons will be no more. But the unofficial announcement of election results, election-day and post-election violence have potential to undermine democracy for generations. As the excitement settles for winners, and shame for losers, we all await the inauguration of our 7th President–something we should be proud of as a nation. We change Presidents like jobs. As an analyst, I expected a tight result, but the electorate proved me wrong. HH and the UPND came up with a very big win. Congratulations Bally! I look forward to seeing you “fix it.”
President Lungu graciously conceded and we should be looking to 2026. But we should not forget that the unofficial announcement of 2021 election results, election day and the ongoing post-election violence by the UPND and its cadres would have a damaging impact on Zambian democracy for ages. The whole process was filled with deception of untold magnitude. The UPND social media outlets willingly went on a misinformation campaign aimed at discrediting the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s efforts to do its work and misinforming the nation and the world. It dumped falsehoods of all sorts on Zambians and the world–from the claim that Chililabombwe is the new Dundumwezi of 2021 elections for giving Lungu only 250 votes to Lusambo and Tasila Lungu losing to UPND candidates to HH winning by 78% of the total votes among many others. These lies became the initial basis for many congratulations that HH and the UPND candidates continued to receive despite the ECZ warning against such unconfirmed results. Of course, the UPND maintained its results were based on its own data, but how could we explain the big disparities with the official results? Even media houses believed the same, accusing the Commission of trying to cook up something. Again sowing distrust in the ECZ.
The question is, why did HH allow the UPND to continue promoting the false results on its social media platforms? Or why didn’t he even issue a single statement to the contrary? The goal was to sow doubt in the ECZ, which is the foundation of our democracy. If we don’t trust it, our democracy dies. Unfortunately, the UPND has made us believe that the key to winning an election is to claim the victory before any official result is called. After all, a lie told hundreds of times becomes the truth. And how many of us shared the UPND Big Lie on our social media platforms, only to remove it days later? It is shameful that the UPND cadres didn’t have confidence in the ECZ until it declared HH the winner of the election. Let’s assume he didn’t win this election–Zambia would be on fire as we speak. By its activities during the past election, the UPND has rendered the ECZ powerless. In our excitement, we may ignore this issue. But we must remember that this strategy is deadly if the propaganda goes against the propagandist–it can easily lead to post-election violence.
The HH victory is bittersweet, it is covered in innocent blood and ongoing post-election violence. HH has won the election and may have assured Lungu of his protection, but his cadres have continued to wreak havoc on fellow citizens. He may call on them to stop, but it is too late. He trained them to be exactly what they have become–kill democracy and rule by violence and not by law. Yet violence has no role in democracy. As President, HH will be faced with the simple choice–to ignore his violent cadres who propelled him to Plot 1 and risk losing the next election, or to reward them by making them untouchables and retain power. The choice is clear–it will surely take us back to the Lungu days. But why should we always shed blood election after election?
I opposed President Lungu’s decision to deploy the military on the streets of Zambia. My childhood experiences with the military during the Kaunda regime were traumatic enough to support any actions that seem to turn or even pretend to turn citizens into foreign enemies. The military has no business in national affairs, but defending the nation against foreign enemies. Alas! It turned out the violence would come mostly from fellow citizens. In various Provinces, the UPND cadres proudly broadcast videos harassing and beating people at Polling Stations, and assaulting election officials–all in the name of protecting UPND votes. Innocent lives were lost too. We seem to move from one violent regime to another, while our blood water our streets to put the Big Man in Plot 1.
My biggest fear is, opposition parties now know that this is the way to win–terrorize voters and you win in 2026. If UPND cadres will be proactive then, expect the opposition to do the same–it will be the rule of the jungle; survival of the fittest from henceforth. This is the UPND gift to Zambian democracy. HH repeatedly called PF cadres thugs; but the defeat of Lungu has exposed his cadres true colors–they are openly violent and untamed. Mr. President Elect, you can warn your cadres to stop beating people at will, but it is too late. You untamed them and they gave you the victory, it is time for them to inflict the maximum damage on their enemies. Yes you may forgive Lungu, but they have unfinished business to attend to with disgraced PF cadres. All you can do is enjoy the Halls of Plot 1 as your once attack dogs bite at will.
KZ, I urge to marry CK and live unhappily ever after. Your relevance here ended a long time ago.
What a nonsense story, full with fantasy. Go do your homework again
Total rubbish……..the writer is calling citizens aggrieved and tortured by PF thugs for years who are now bitting back as UPND caders………
Where are the police in all this supposed cader mayhem I may ask ????
The police may have been rendered powerless and below caders by lungu , but because of wanting to show the new boss their worth , caders are now under control , it is common citizens of zambia that are attacking PF caders or anything in green.
This is after years of torture and brutality by PF.
This is nonsense. Fictional violence in the Zambezi region is the usual tribal rhetoric by PF. The Solwezi incidence was by a mob..
No one terrorized us the voters. We voted out the brutal PF regime in complete peace. Deepest condolences to the families that lost their loved ones during the election period. UPND was simply trying to protect its votes and it did so very well but unfortunately it resulted in some deaths. The PF attempted to rig the elections but this time they failed miserably. The huge voter turnout spoke volumes about how people wanted the PF out of power
Ba kaoma you have called a spade a spade. It is strange that upnd accepted and celebrated a win precided by corrupt ecz. Why not accept. The violence will continue and HH will not do much. Pf leaders have left their followers exposed. Call for vengeance is on. On my mind is mwanawasa days when we heard that chiluba stole. Today very few items were recovered. The money spent on tracing items stolen was far beyond what was recovered. Here we are again.
Sometimes a win is a win. Do you remember the hand of God? That hand ball which gave some South American soccer legend a goal on the score sheet? Like football, cadreism is a profession.
Two things may now happen: PF will make it hard for UPND to rule to prove who is better; and UPND will surely dismantle PF to bits and pieces to prevent their come back.
And this violence, social media manipulation will haunt upnd soon. You can never get away with bad. God will lay the truth bare.
UPND should be careful and concentrate on the mandate its been given by the people of Zambia. The Zambian people rejected violence and unruly behaviour by voting out the PF government. They did not vote for a replacement of more of the same. Those that are talking revenge should realise that the mood in the country is at boiling point. Calm down, we need order restored so that we can concentrate on rebuilding rather than petty fights between the greens and the reds.
“…the UPND cadres proudly broadcast videos harassing and beating people at Polling Stations, and assaulting election officials…”
And their leaders proudly undermined democracy and have blood on their hands. Edgar Lungu publicly restrained his cadres and denounced violence.
Ba Rev. Kapya Kaoma, I agree with you entirely. UPND supporters have proved over the years to be purveyors of falsehoods and the make-believe world all in their attempt to make the PF look bad in the eyes of Zambian people. They forget about their intolerance for opposed views and the blood they have shed going as far back as the MMD days. I remember the Mufumbwe parliamentary bye-election under MMD when they wrecked havoc in Mufumbwe killing even livestock of MMD members as RB complained bitterly against their wicked behaviour. Even when their leader, HH, is not promising retribution against ECL, they are saying if HH does not “fix” ECL, they will make sure they vote Highvie Hamududu in 2026, as if HH was voted by Tongas alone. They have already judged ECL to be guilty and would want…
… HH to simply have him punished severely.
There is a serious need for political Parties to acquaint themselves with the election processes. The UPND has always had issues with all Chief Elections Officers, that means that they don’t engage. They were not happy with Dan Kalale, Priscilla Isaacs and now Nshindano, how possible is that? As for propaganda all are guilty. Davies Mwila went to the press and informed the world that the PF PVT had given Edgar a 53% win, from where did he get the figures?
This analysis is fake. The people of Zambia had come to know the evil schemes of PF, to rig, and they stood ready to defend their vote.
PF had their own PVT which they claimed had ECL leading, even when ECZ results were putting HH far ahead.
The truth is that PF failed to rig those elections, and they lost.
Zambians were vigilant that’s why they even metted mob justice at any slight suspicion of having ballot papers.
PF just threw their pre marked papers on the street. Isn’t that enough evidence?
The UPND has been losing elections because Zambians were not ready for them. They have never even weighed in on their own PVT! Reliance on Southern, Western and Northwest provinces have always been responsible for the perpetual losses. The moment the whole country came out in hordes, victory was certain for the Reds. PF rigging and ECZ incompetence was buried and overshadowed by enormous UPND support base.
At number 7. The PF cannot and will not make it difficult for UPND to govern, the UPND has the numbers to pass any laws without resistance.
And most PF MPs are like bowman who can be sold for a dime.
About the article, the author raises a very valid point, albeit squarely asking HH to denounce social media posts is a bit too much.
And his assumptions that the fake media was supported by HH is baseless.
The author is a PF agent and the story is full of nonsense. It seems like these elections have opened eyes to the blind and hearing to the deaf. Edgar and his PF members suddenly they can see violence and yet they have lived over it for 10 years!
This kind of writing, long one for that matter, should have a modicum reasonableness and truth.
The author is weird! ZAMBIA FORWARD!
@Chiza Chirwa #16
You seem to agree with me that UPND is going to shred PF. Eg. by buying their MP’s, like Bow.man Lusa.mbo. We are fatigued with meaningless bye elections.
Don’t be preoccupied with building and consolidating the party more than revamping the negative economic trends. Fertiliser he said will come down to K250. Reduce mealie meal price to K100; reduce the cost of money; free education up to university; create employment, etc. You have a socioeconomic mandate, not to settle a political fight.
@19, Machayi, HH already had a meeting with independent MPs, you need not guess what that was about.
Our democracy is threatened now. What’s to stop the UPND from enacting Bill 10? They have the numbers.
Alas, HH has a lot of work ahead of him, we should give him at least 3 years before we begin to task him.
@Chiza-upnd doesn’t have the numbers to pass any bill. Parliament 2021 is like this: 81 upnd, 63 pf, 10 independent, 1 PNUP, 1 to be contested. E even when the independents stand with upnd, they can’t reach the threshold for constitutional amendments for example.
@Kacha-Standing vigilant and killing Zambians in the name of preventing rigging is a lie. ECZ is the envy of Africa today because rigging doesn’t happen in Zambia. Killing Zambians is just the way of upnd.
It will end in tears…..Bally will fix it…my assss…..Bally is already looking for more kaloba with a much bigger begging bowl….he went straight to USAID and this same was against borrowing….welcome to the real world
Before independence, our leaders condemned the brutal acts of the colonial governments. The Public Order Act was used to arrest and imprison the freedom fighters. We won independence and then what did we do? Our leaders simply put on the colonialists shoes and went on to brutalise their own kith and kin. KK declared himself sole candidate. In 1991, the people said no, to a one party state. MMD came in and not long after that turned to use the same oppressive laws against the opponents. Chiluba even attempted to legally murder KK with a charge of misprision of treason. People rejected the 3rd term. PF came. It too just put on the same shoes. Lungu too wanted to legally murder HH with a treason charge. He promised to arrest HH this week had he won. PLEASE let us for once, have a Zambia we…
All PF losing and win candidates will be brought by UPND….the same people you were calling as thieves….Dora Siliya is already in UPND and Bowman lusambo will become HH number 1 bootlicker…and the looting and plundering of our resources will continue and this time even worse….Bally will fix you…muzdya oxygen
KZ the criminal dog
#22Â Â AnonymousÂ
August 19, 2021 At 11:47 am
“It will end in tears…..Bally will fix it…my assss…..Bally is already looking for more kaloba with a much bigger begging bowl….he went straight to USAID and this same was against borrowing….welcome to the real world..”
What do you expect ? Lungu and his gang have looted and bankrupted the Zambian economy…….there is no money …
HEHH needs to find money from somewhere to kick-start the economy.
It will take a full 5 years for things to stabilise after the looting and damage by the thieving lungu and his gang.
#11Â the observer
August 19, 2021 At 8:43 am
“Ba Rev. Kapya Kaoma, I agree with you entirely. UPND supporters have proved over the years to be purveyors of falsehoods and the make-believe world all in their attempt to make the PF look bad in the eyes of Zambian people……”
You are blind and naive……what lies did sata and the PF peddle against MMD ?
what goes around comes around……
Lungu and his GRZ were the worst peddlers of armature immature ridicules lies the world has ever seen……
Like GBM training milita , bweengea kidnapping , $1.6 million arms to harm lungu , then they went and gassed their own citizens ……….
HEHH is a fine economic manager , the Zambian economy is in safe hands guided by the rule of law……
probably the safest it will ever be, we are looking to beat PLWs record of good governance.
Not lungu who only knew how to borrow and spend…….
And those calling for accountability of lunguband his gang…..
we expect Obvious mwaliteta to do the job. Mwaliteta was jailed for almost 1 year on fake charges…..we expect him to bring accountability to lungu and his gang.
HEHH is a fine economic manager , the Zambian economy is in safe hands guided by the rule of law……
probably the safest it will ever be, we are looking to beat PLWs record of good governance.
Not lungu who only knew how to borrow and spend…….
And those calling for accountability of lunguband his gang…..
we expect Obvious mwaliteta to do the job. Mwaliteta was jailed for almost 1 year on trumped up charges…..we expect him to bring accountability to lungu and his gang.
@ Zambian Citizen
Yes UPND is blood thirsty group of evil minded people…they delight in violence and lawlessness…am sure every Zambian now knows the true colors of UPND
#29Â Â AnonymousÂ
August 19, 2021 At 1:03 pm
“@ Zambian Citizen
Yes UPND is blood thirsty group of evil minded people…they delight in violence and lawlessness…am sure every Zambian now knows the true colors of UPND…”
Sour grapes. Your violent thieving PF thugs were roundly rejected by the people of Zambia. There is nothing the UPND can do that can be worse than PFs violent cader corrupt rule.
The beatings and arrests you see are common citizens meeting out sweet revenge on the PF thugs who tormented them for so long……..
We told lungu and his thugs , what goes around comes around , and your time will come , as sure as the sun will raise……..
#29Â Â AnonymousÂ
August 19, 2021 At 1:03 pm
“@ Zambian Citizen
Yes UPND is blood thirsty group of evil minded people…they delight in violence and lawlessness…am sure every Zambian now knows the true colors of UPND…”
So.ur gra.pes. Your viol.ent thieving PF thugs were roundly rejected by the people of Zambia. There is nothing the UPND can do that can be worse than PFs violent cader corr.upt rule.
The bea.tings and arrests you see are common citizens meeting out sweet reve.nge on the PF thugs who torm.ented them for so long……..
We told lungu and his thugs , what goes around comes around , and your time will come , as sure as the sun will raise……..
Infact Obvious mwaliteta should replace kapoyongo at home affaires………..
Ovbious has some accounts to settle with lungu and his gang of thugs……
Obvious Summerton Mwaliteta can’t be a Minister because he doesn’t have a grade 12 certificate, so he can’t be nominated
@Ayatolla #34. Is that not the reason he defected to UPND? Education.
Revenge is sweet. FTJ wasted his sweet time revenging and went away avenged too. Life not only goes around; it comes around as well. History is lesson for Now and Future.
#34Â Â AyatollahÂ
August 19, 2021 At 2:16 pm
“Obvious Summerton Mwaliteta can’t be a Minister because he doesn’t have a grade 12 certificate, so he can’t be nominated..”
Then he will to be in another position that makes sure the public order act and the proceeds of crime statements apply properly to lungu and his gang…….
Bitter man.
Insoni ebuntu . Even PF cadres, organisation and associations aligned to PF came up with fake opinion polls claiming that ECL would win the August 12 elections just to hoodwink electorates to vote for PF but Zambians had already made up their minds. Just accept defeat and move on with change. Its now Zambia Forward.
PF tried everything including stage managed opinion polls
Imagine! They even tried Ntewewe, Antonio Mwanza, Kambwili, GBM, blocking HH from going to certain places, switching off internet (a big blunder since people were still on voting queues) the list goes on..
Kappa Kaoma, you are writing as a pf cadre. You sound sad & angry at the majority Zambians who voted out a violent, murderous & plundering bunch of thieves.
Your story is subjective, full of lies. You are the reason your party lost.. thieves, go to hell !
All Zambians in the U.K help bring Kaizer Zulu to Zambia so he can face charges for emblezzlement of public funds and Multiple assault charges. We are aware of his Chinese corruption activities and his other criminal activities. If you know him, you don’t have to do anything send me a message of his potential whereabouts and his address. He is not just an internet bully but he is a criminal. Let’s help bring justice for those he assaulted.
He is supposedly in the United Kingdom. If anyone knows what city and town. Send information to
to [email protected] about his whereabouts. He has been taunting people and let’s get him extradited. it is time to bring him to face the music. Public Embezzlement and Assaut. If he is around Lusaka, there is an open docket. Send tips…