By Mubanga Mubanga
It is very difficult to conduct free and fair elections in 2026 under the current political atmosphere, says Socialist Party (SP) leader Dr Fred M’membe.
Speaking during the visit by the European Union on a follow up meeting at his office in Lusaka, Dr M’membe said if the current political situation continues it will be impossible to hold free and fair elections in 2026. ‘
He said the violence and other malpractices have deepened from the 2021 general elections.
“And if we continue on this path it will be impossible to hold free and fair elections in this country in 2026. It is not possible even now to hold free and fair elections … I have been a participant in those by -elections, I have been campaigning in those by-elections directly myself. This is not the atmosphere under which you can hold free and fair elections,’’ Dr M’membe said.
Dr M’membe expressed worry that the credibility of the Judiciary, police and Electoral Commission of
Zambia is gone.
‘’But what is also worrying are the institutions on which we depended, their credibility is going. The credibility of the Judiciary in so far as elections are concerned gone, the police is gone, the Electoral Commission is gone,’’ said Dr M’membe.
And leader of the delegation of European Parliament Maria Arena recommended a change of the Public Order Act, so that people are able to move freely
‘’And when it comes to the Public Order Act, it is a very important piece of Legislation ahh … so what you said … you lose your space with this application of Public Order Act. For us it is important to say … why we recommend to change the situation and to guarantee that people have a right to gather,’’ said Arena.
