By ZR Reporter
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has warned that the recent surge in political violence risks undermining the credibility of the August 13 General Elections, urging law enforcement agencies and electoral authorities to act decisively and impartially against those responsible regardless of their political affiliation.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, the country’s legal body said reports of assaults on candidates, attacks on campaign convoys, intimidation of political supporters and destruction of property represent a direct assault on Zambia’s constitutional democracy and the rule of law.
LAZ argues that the country’s legal framework already provides sufficient safeguards against electoral violence but that the greatest challenge lies in consistent, timely and impartial enforcement of existing laws.
The association points to Article 45 of the Constitution, which requires elections to be conducted freely and fairly without violence, intimidation or other electoral malpractice, alongside provisions of the Electoral Process Act and the Electoral Code of Conduct that criminalise the use of violence or threats to influence political participation and voter choice.
Against that legal backdrop, LAZ maintains that acts of political violence should not be viewed as ordinary campaign disputes but as criminal offences capable of weakening public confidence in the electoral process.
The association has called on the Zambia Police Service to investigate every reported incident professionally and independently, insisting that perpetrators, sponsors and those who incite political violence must be held accountable irrespective of their political affiliation.
According to LAZ, equal application of the law remains essential if the country is to preserve public confidence in both law enforcement institutions and the integrity of the electoral process.
The association has also expressed concern that escalating political violence could compromise election observation efforts ahead of polling day. As one of the organisations accredited to observe the elections, LAZ says a peaceful and secure environment is necessary to enable observers to carry out their work freely, independently and without intimidation.
Beyond law enforcement, LAZ is urging the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) to rigorously enforce the Electoral Code of Conduct by imposing sanctions where candidates, political parties or their supporters are found to have breached electoral rules.The legal body further places responsibility on political leaders themselves, arguing that leadership extends beyond personal conduct to include the actions of party members and supporters. It warns that political leaders should neither encourage nor tolerate violence, adding that they cannot distance themselves from unlawful conduct where it is permitted or left unchecked.
LAZ has also appealed to members of the public to reject political violence, resist being used to commit unlawful acts and report incidents to both the Zambia Police Service and the Electoral Commission of Zambia.
As Zambia enters the final days before the August 13 General Elections, LAZ says political competition must remain a contest of ideas rather than force, stressing that the country’s democratic tradition can only be protected through respect for the Constitution, the rule of law, human rights and peaceful participation in the electoral process.
© Zambia Reports | August 2026