SIMUUWE WARNS AGAINST PREMATURE DECLARATION OF PRESIDENTIAL RESULTS

United Party for National Development (UPND) Media Director Mark Simuuwe has issued a stern warning to political stakeholders and opposing camps, cautioning them against the premature declaration of presidential election winners outside the established legal framework. Speaking in Lusaka amidst ongoing vote verification, Mr. Simuuwe stressed that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) remains the sole statutory body empowered under the republican constitution to collate, verify, and officially announce election outcomes. He noted that any parallel or self-proclaimed victory announcements are not only null and void but constitute a direct breach of electoral laws. Mr. Simuuwe’s remarks follow escalating anxieties as early preliminary tallies begin trickling in from various parts of the country. The ruling party official accused certain opposition elements of trying to manipulate public perception and undermine the credibility of the electoral process, particularly in regions where opposition parties have faced unexpected setbacks. He claimed that the UPND has made significant inroads into regions traditionally viewed as opposition strongholds, asserting strong performances across several provinces including Northern, Eastern, Luapula, and Muchinga. The electoral atmosphere in Lusaka and other provincial centers remains tense as citizens anxiously await official updates from the ECZ. Legal experts and governance civil society organizations have repeatedly echoed similar sentiments, reminding political actors that announcing unofficial results can cause unwarranted public anxiety and civil unrest. The ECZ has similarly invoked provisions under the Electoral Process Act, warning that unauthorized declarations of poll winners are punishable offenses designed to safeguard national peace and institutional integrity during vulnerable transition periods. As the nation holds its breath for subsequent batches of verified constituency results, political analysts note that