By Christian Kasonde | Kasama
As Zambia edges closer to the August 13 general elections, the battle for credibility may already be underway — not on polling day, but long before a single ballot is cast.
In Kasama, a mayoral by-election held on 29 January was officially declared peaceful by authorities and observers. But an on-the-ground investigation by Radio Mano suggests a more troubling picture — one shaped not just by how people voted, but by what some say happened before they reached the ballot box.
Weeks after the election, some voters allege that during the campaign period they were offered money or food, intimidated, and asked to surrender sensitive personal details, including National Registration Cards and voter card information.
A senior ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) official in Northern Province, has since acknowledged that voter details were collected. Yet despite these allegations, and the admission, there has been little visible response from authorities.
This raises critical questions not only about what happened in Kasama, but about what it could mean for the country as it heads toward a high-stakes national election.
This report by Radio Mano investigates what happened in Kasama — and why it could define the credibility of Zambia’s next general election.
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