Bring your own pen or lose your vote, Mundubile backers tell Zambians

187 Views Supporters of National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity presidential candidate Brian Mundubile are urging voters to go to polling stations with their own pens on August 13, claiming that pens provided by the Electoral Commission of Zambia will make marks disappear within two hours. A video circulating online has fueled the claim. […]

187 Views

Supporters of National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity presidential candidate Brian Mundubile are urging voters to go to polling stations with their own pens on August 13, claiming that pens provided by the Electoral Commission of Zambia will make marks disappear within two hours.

A video circulating online has fueled the claim. In the clip, Zambian social media influencer and entrepreneur Lillian Mutambo, who is based in the United Kingdom, warned voters not to trust ECZ pens.

“Dear Zambians, as you go and vote carry your NRC, Voter’s Card, your own Pen, Water and cloth. If you use the pens provided after 2 hours your vote will disappear. This is a rigging trick they want to use,” Mutambo said.

The allegation comes six days before the general election, with parties already trading accusations of vote rigging. Even President Hakainde Hichilema has publicly accused the opposition of planning to manipulate the vote.

The ECZ has not yet responded to the specific claims about disappearing ink.

The pen message is the latest in a series of hard statements from Mundubile aimed at state workers. Last week he sparked debate after warning civil servants against being used to rig the election.

He gave those he accused of supporting the ruling party one month to change, saying a Mundubile government would reform the civil service.

He also promised that teachers who have upgraded their qualifications would receive salary adjustments once he is in office.

Mundubile said civil servants must focus on delivering services professionally instead of carrying out unlawful instructions. He singled out some police officers, accusing them of failing to enforce the law impartially, and pledged to restore professionalism if elected.

His remarks were interpreted by some UPND members as a threat to government workers.

Addressing supporters in Mwansabombwe, Mundubile sought to clarify.

“Ba civil servants muliba suma. I wasn’t threatening civil servants, I was simply warning them not to rig the elections because doing so would land them in trouble,” he said.

He made similar comments days earlier in Kasama, where he accused some public workers of abandoning neutrality and acting like political cadres.

Mundubile has insisted his message is not about intimidation. According to him, it is a reminder that public officers have a duty to remain neutral and uphold the law during the electoral process.

With voting just days away, the disappearing ink claim and the exchange over civil servants have added to an already tense campaign period.