“This is a very important election, and I couldn’t miss it eventhough I am still mourning,” Tasila Lungu

Former Chawama Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu, accompaniedby her husband Patrick Mwansa, was among Zambians who casttheir votes early on Thursday at Kabulonga Boys Polling Stationin Lusaka. Speaking to journalists shortly after voting, Lungu, daughterof the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, said the 2026General Election carries special weight for her and for thecountry. “This […]

Former Chawama Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu, accompanied
by her husband Patrick Mwansa, was among Zambians who cast
their votes early on Thursday at Kabulonga Boys Polling Station
in Lusaka.

Speaking to journalists shortly after voting, Lungu, daughter
of the late former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu, said the 2026
General Election carries special weight for her and for the
country.

“This is a very important election, and I couldn’t miss it even
I am still mourning,” she said.

Tasila urged fellow citizens to participate fully and to
exercise patience at polling stations.

“I urge all Zambians to get out in their numbers and vote,” she
said. “Please be patient. Do not be frustrated no matter how
long you have to wait, until you cast your vote.”

She added that the outcome of today’s vote will shape the
country’s direction. “The country’s future depends on today’s
vote,” she said.

Thursday marked Tasila’s first major public appearance since
her extended absence from the public.

Following the death of her father, former President Edgar
Lungu, Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti
subsequently declared the Chawama parliamentary seat vacant
citing prolonged absence.

That decision ignited fierce national debate about
parliamentary procedure, representation, and bereavement. It
ultimately led to a heavily contested by-election in January
2026 to elect a new MP for Chawama.

Throughout that period, and amid the ongoing, deeply personal
discussions around her late father’s final resting
arrangements, Tasila remained largely out of public view. She
made few media appearances and focused on private family
matters.

Her decision to turn out to vote on Thursday therefore drew
significant attention at Kabulonga Boys, where queues had
formed from early morning.

Tasila arrived at the polling station alongside her husband and
former Kabulonga Ward 16 Councillor.

The couple appeared calm as they joined voters in the busy
lanes and completed the voting process.

The area holds personal significance for both of them. Tasila
and Patrick first met years ago while serving as local
government councillors in Lusaka. Their working relationship
later turned personal, culminating in a highly publicised
wedding ceremony in 2020 that drew political figures and
residents from across the capital.

On Thursday, they moved through the station without a formal
motorcade or entourage, interacting briefly with electoral
officials and party agents present to monitor the process.

While Tasila did not issue an official press statement, her
brief remarks to the media were widely shared. Her presence
alone, observers noted, carried weight in a constituency that
she represented for five years.

Voters at Kabulonga Boys reacted warmly to seeing the former
MP. Some paused to greet her. Others said her turnout
encouraged them to stay in line despite the wait.

“She is mourning, but she still came to vote. That tells you
how important this is,” said one voter in her 40s. A first-time
voter said he recognized her from her time as MP and
appreciated the message to be patient.

Electoral officials said the opening and voting process at the
station was smooth. Party agents were seated with registers,
and security personnel maintained order without interfering
with voters.

The SADC Election Observation Mission also visited Kabulonga
Boys earlier in the morning to witness opening procedures,
underscoring the attention on Lusaka polling centers.

For much of the last year, the political conversation around
Chawama has focused on the vacancy and the by-election that
followed. The seat, once held by Tasila, has been central to
debates about continuity, party strength in Lusaka, and voter
turnout in urban constituencies.

Tasila’s decision to vote, without making a broader political
address, was interpreted by many as a deliberate choice to
re-enter civic space quietly.

Zambians across all 10 provinces are voting Thursday for
President, Members of Parliament, and councilors. More than 8
million voters are registered. Polling stations opened at 06:00
hours and will close in the evening before counting begins.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia has urged voters to remain
peaceful and patient. Regional observer missions, including
SEOM, are monitoring the process against SADC’s democratic
guidelines.