VILILANDA CAMPAIGN TEAM URGES NKOMBO TO ACCEPT ELECTION DEFEAT

The political atmosphere in Mazabuka Central remains charged following the conclusion of the August 13 general elections, as the campaign team for United Party for National Development (UPND) parliamentary candidate Vincent Lilanda formally called upon former Member of Parliament Gary Nkombo to gracefully concede defeat. Speaking through Media Manager Reuben Hambulo, the Lilanda camp strongly rejected allegations made by Nkombo regarding voter intimidation and electoral interference, insisting that the democratic process was upheld. The friction stems from contested perceptions of the polls in a constituency that has long stood as a significant bastion in Zambia's political landscape. Nkombo, a prominent political figure who chose to run as an independent after a shifting political dynamic, publicly claimed that the electoral outcome did not reflect the true will of the electorate, asserting that democracy was the ultimate casualty. In contrast, the Lilanda camp maintained that the assertions of stolen votes are baseless and urged all parties to exercise restraint while awaiting the final official tallies from the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). Mr. Hambulo specifically dismissed claims that Lilanda and his campaign manager engaged in intimidating election agents at key stations such as Nega Nega, Lubombo, and Ndeke. Instead, the camp countered that Nkombo's supporters provoked tension during routine oversight visits, though they praised their own team for exercising discipline and maintaining peace. The campaign has emphasized that voters have spoken clearly through the ballot and that leaders have a civic obligation to respect institutional outcomes rather than stoke post-electoral anxiety. The development highlights the intense local rivalries that often characterize high-stakes parliamentary contests in Zambia's Southern Province. As verification continues, community leaders and civil society observers have stepped up calls for calm, urging both camps t