Zambian Opposition Party Patriots for Economic Progress Blocked from Elections in Shock 'Church Redesignation' Scandal

A significant political controversy has erupted in Zambia, as the opposition Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP) party claims its official records at the Registrar of Societies were unexpectedly altered, reclassifying it from a political party to an entity involved in “Ministry and Preaching.” This shocking development effectively blocked PeP’s presidential candidates, Chanda Katotobwe and running mate Sean Tembo, along with hundreds of other aspiring candidates, from filing their nominations for the upcoming elections.

The duo revealed they had spent nearly K4 million on nomination-related expenses, only to discover the unprecedented changes during the filing process. They described the alterations as disruptive and shocking, explaining that the shift in their legal status rendered the party incapable of participating in political activity or submitting nominations. The administrative change has sweeping consequences, reportedly blocking 167 parliamentary candidates, six mayoral candidates, 57 council chairperson candidates, and 969 councillor candidates nationwide, escalating what began as a records dispute into a full-scale electoral exclusion crisis.

Beyond the fundamental reclassification, the irregularities allegedly extended to the party’s internal structure. Chanda Katotobwe and Sean Tembo claim that office bearers had been changed, and unfamiliar names inserted into key positions, including that of secretary general. In one particularly bizarre allegation, the pair stated that one individual listed in the party records was allegedly deceased, identified as Mr. Handavu, despite formal communications requesting that records reflect Mr. Njobvu as the current office holder.

The anomaly only became apparent on May 21 when party officials arrived for presidential nominations. Upon seeking clarification from the Registrar of Societies, PeP representatives were allegedly informed that the changes had been made online from an internet café by an unknown individual identified as “Prince Care.” This discovery effectively nullified weeks of mobilization and significant expenditure, preventing the party from participating at nearly every level of the ballot.

The incident now raises profound questions about the integrity and security of party registration systems, particularly during an election period already marked by legal battles, factional disputes, and administrative controversies. For Sean Tembo, a consistent and persistent opposition figure in Zambia’s political landscape, this development is politically symbolic. Despite consistently appearing on ballots over the years, often with limited electoral success, this time his obstacle was not a lack of voter support, but the apparent disappearance of his party’s political identity itself. Election periods are inherently built on paperwork, procedure, and precise timing, making such an alteration at the nomination stage capable of erasing months of strategic planning and effort instantaneously.

In response to this critical situation, PeP has formally appealed to President Hakainde Hichilema and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) for intervention, confirming that a letter requesting the restoration of the party’s legal standing has been hand-delivered to State House before nomination deadlines close. Ironically, on the same day Chanda Katotobwe and Sean Tembo battled to prove PeP was still a political party, President Hichilema successfully filed his nominations, becoming the final presidential candidate to do so before the process officially concluded. As of the time of publication, neither the Registrar of Societies nor the Ministry of Home Affairs and Internal Security had publicly responded to these serious allegations.