The Editor Zambia
The call by the Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance presidential candidate Brian Mundubile urging his supporters to remain at polling stations after voting is reckless and a direct recipe for anarchy.
Polling stations are meant for casting ballots in an orderly and peaceful manner, not for gatherings that can intimidate voters, disrupt electoral staff, and compromise the integrity of the electoral process. 
Mundubile has urged his followers to defy the police advisory note for voters not to stick around polling stations after voting unless they are dully accredited as monitors.
Mundubile told voters to remain around polling stations after casting their ballots, saying they should stay behind to ‘protect’ their votes.
This is contrary to lawful instructions issued by the police two days before elections as a measure to control public disorder to avoid anarchy.
Mundubile’s reckless statement comes against the advice of Zambia Police Inspector General Graphel Musamba, who urged voters to leave polling stations after casting their ballots.
Musamba urged voters to return to their homes, places of work, or continue with their normal lawful activities after voting and avoid loitering around polling stations.
These unlawful orders by Mundubile to his supporters have the potential to degenerate into public chaos and possibly compromise the credibility of the elections.
Mundubile’s senior presidential advisor, Binwell Mpundu, is on record declaring war, saying he was ready to kill for these general elections.
Mundubile’s instructions appear to be a well calculated move to cause violence on voting day. This part of Tonse-Pamodzi Alliance’s planned violent acts on voting day.
Political observers have also noted that keeping crowds at polling stations after voting creates tension, opens room for violence, and violates electoral guidelines on maintaining order.
Analysts are also of the view that the idea of voters remaining at the polling stations after casting their votes could cause conflict among different political groups, which can result in injury or deaths.
Political parties have the right to protect their votes, but this should not be confused with creating unnecessary crowds at polling stations.
Votes are always protected by law enforcement agencies, electoral officials, and accredited polling agents of participating political parties, and not by ordinary voters.
Political parties are required to follow the guidelines of the Zambia Police and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
The Police Service has deployed additional officers to man polling stations and totalling centres and has enhanced mobile patrols, crime detection operations, and rapid response teams.
