Significant concerns have emerged regarding the Electoral Commission of Zambia's (ECZ) official records, with figures being released that do not align with its own documented data. A particularly striking discrepancy was observed in Southern Province, where the ECZ publicly announced 1,119,174 registered voters for 2025. This figure, which widely influenced political calculations and public perception, stood in stark contrast to the ECZ's own official final register for the province, which recorded only 858,103 registered voters. This substantial difference of 261,071 voters is not a minor technical issue; it represents a contradiction large enough to significantly impact turnout analysis, provincial weight in elections, and overall confidence in the entire electoral process. In democratic elections, numbers are not mere commentary but form the fundamental architecture of legitimacy.

Further analysis of the demographic context sharpens these concerns. Southern Province's voting-age population in 2022 was approximately 1,135,121. Projecting this with Zambia’s average annual population growth rate of 4% indicates a voting-age population of roughly 1.27 million for 2025. Against this reality, an official register of 858,103 voters represents a plausible and historically consistent registration rate for a largely rural province. Conversely, a register of 1,119,174 implies a registration coverage approaching total saturation of eligible adults, an outcome rarely achieved even in highly urbanised societies. The troubling aspect is not merely the existence of two different numbers, but the lack of clarity from the ECZ in explaining the transition from provisional to final figures, offering no reconciliation for the vast disparity.

This pattern of unexplained discrepancies is not an isolated incident. Chishala Kateka, President of the New Heritage Party, highlighted similar national-level concerns in her article dated January 10, 2026. She noted that ECZ Chief Executive Officer Brown Kasaro reported 8,861,918 total registered voters in his mass registration statistics speech, while the ECZ's own "Registered Voters Per Polling Station" document reflected only 7,073,513 voters. This represented a substantial difference of 1,788,405 voters, or a 25.28 percent variance. While acknowledging that the CEO's figure was provisional, Kateka emphasized that such a significant differential should be a serious concern for any perceptive individual, irrespective of their statistical expertise. Her observations resonate directly with the Southern Province case, demonstrating a consistent pattern of vast, unexplained differences between initial announcements and official final figures.

Kateka further elaborated on January 11, 2026, expressing gratitude for Mr. Kasaro's prompt clarification but reiterating the fundamental need for clear, unambiguous, and standalone information on the ECZ website. She stressed that any information provided to the public must be easily understandable, or at minimum, accompanied by footnotes or explanatory notes to prevent confusion, especially for less knowledgeable individuals. Given the ECZ's critical role, particularly in an election year, and the existing mistrust between the public and the government, Kateka highlighted the paramount importance of meticulous attention to detail in all information shared by the commission.

In a separate but equally significant development, Zambia Must Prosper (ZMP) has expressed strong concerns over what it perceives as administrative maneuvers designed to politically neutralize and fracture the party from the Tonse Alliance. Kelvin Fube Bwalya, President of ZMP and Vice Chairman of the Tonse Alliance, stated that ZMP would not allow itself to be sidelined by actions that appear selectively applied and conveniently timed. The authority’s actions, according to ZMP, increasingly suggest an intention to undermine an alliance founded on collective struggle, shared sacrifice, and a common vision for Zambia’s democratic future.

The timing of these administrative directives has been particularly disturbing, raising legitimate questions about consistency, fairness, and institutional neutrality. ZMP highlighted that these actions come after the Tonse Alliance had already taken decisive steps to distance itself from the Lubinda-led Patriotic Front and banned PF regalia in recognition of ongoing court processes. A glaring double standard is also evident, as UPND alliance partners are reportedly campaigning freely and peacefully using their respective political party regalia without interference. The sudden issue with Zambia Must Prosper's members joining the Tonse Alliance campaign team, identified as "Yellow Bees" campaigning for an FDD candidate, prompts questions about whether this heightened sensitivity is driven by fear of prosperity politics, mobilization, or the distinctive colour yellow.

ZMP unequivocally states that political pluralism must apply equally to all players, not solely to those aligned with the ruling establishment. The party remains firmly anchored in the Tonse Alliance, with its members committed to peacefully, lawfully, and resolutely offering political support and campaigning under the alliance umbrella. ZMP asserts that no administrative letter will extinguish the democratic will of a united people. This moment, according to ZMP, calls for sober reflection, strategic recalibration, and unshakable unity, urging the alliance to close ranks and remain calm, focused, and united. Political pressure, ZMP concludes, is often the loudest acknowledgment of relevance, and ZMP is indeed relevant, emphasizing their resolve for 2026 and asserting that Zambia’s democracy will be preserved through fair competition, constitutionalism, and respect for pluralism, not through intimidation or selective enforcement. Members and supporters are urged to remain disciplined, peaceful, and unwavering, as movements rooted in truth and unity cannot be administratively erased.