ECZ revokes Binwell Mpundu’s accreditation to National Results Centre over ‘ready to k!ll’ remarks, citing public safety concerns

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has taken decisive action ahead of the general elections by revoking the accreditation granted to Binwell Mpundu, the Tonse Pamodzi Alliance Chairperson for Presidential Affairs, to access the National Results Centre. Announced by Chief Electoral Officer Brown Kasaro, the ruling comes in the immediate wake of a widely circulated social media video in which Mpundu allegedly declared that he and his supporters were prepared to kill to protect their electoral interests. The commission invoked Section 77(6) of the Electoral Process Act alongside Paragraph 11(1)(c) of the Electoral Code of Conduct, emphasizing that security and public safety must remain paramount during a volatile political season. Mr. Mpundu, a former independent Member of Parliament for Nkana, had initially secured his accreditation following a formal nomination submitted by his political formation late last month. However, the inflammatory tone of his remarks drew swift condemnation from electoral regulators and civil society alike. The ECZ noted that statements carrying threats of extreme violence pose a direct threat to public order, carry the capacity to incite localized unrest, and fundamentally undermine the peaceful administration of the democratic poll. Electoral authorities have continuously urged all political parties, candidates, and accredited stakeholders to exercise utmost restraint and adhere strictly to the confines of the electoral code. The commission cautioned that it will not hesitate to enforce statutory provisions against any individual whose public conduct or utterances threaten the integrity and peaceful execution of the electoral calendar. This strict stance reflects growing sensitivities surrounding political rhetoric as the nation approaches a tightly contested ballot. The development has triggered intense public debate across Lusaka and the Copperbelt, drawing mixed reactions from various political camps. While ruling party support