STAKEHOLDERS CALL FOR FAIR SCHEDULING OF PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TIMETABLE

By Nelson Zulu

The Christian Churches Monitoring Group -CCMG- has called on the Electoral Commission of Zambia -ECZ- and the ruling UPND to manage the presidential campaign timetable fairly and ensure that no political party is disadvantaged during the campaign period.

Commenting on the ECZ’s decision to suspend campaigns for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity -NRPUP- from 8th to 10th July 2026 in Chimpundu Ward of Shiwang’andu district to facilitate Vice President Mutale Nalumango’s working visit, CCMG Programmes Director Peter Mwanang’ombe has questioned whether the affected political party will be compensated for the disruption to its scheduled campaigns.

In an interview with Phoenix News, Mr. Mwanang’ombe acknowledged that while the president and vice president are exempt from certain provisions governing political campaigns, electoral stakeholders have consistently advocated for equal opportunities for all candidates to reach voters.

He further observed that opposition political parties often lack the financial and logistical capacity to change their campaign programmes at short notice, unlike office holders who have access to public resources.

Mr. Mwanag’ombe has urged that flexibility be exercised when scheduling presidential and vice-presidential engagements to minimise disruptions to other contestants.

Meanwhile, Governance Elections Advocacy Research Services -GEARS- Initiative Zambia Executive Director Patrick Kaumba says the ECZ should have divided the engagements in the Shiwan’gandu constituency rather than entirely halting the campaigns.

PHOENIX NEWS