No, ECZ did not instruct the Police to arrest PF Lusangazi Candidate Patrick Banda.

Rating Justification

The fact checking process has determined as false the claim that the ECZ instructed the Police to arrest PF Lusangazi Council Chairperson Candidate Patrick Banda. On 16th October 2021, ECZ issued a statement refuting allegations circulating in the media that it had issued instructions to the Zambia Police to arrest Patriotic Front (PF) aspiring candidate for the Lusangazi Council Chairperson seat over an alleged fake Grade 12 Certificate. In the statement, the ECZ said that it has not issued instructions to the Police to have the aspiring candidate arrested and that this news must be treated with the highest contempt. The Commission further clarified that they received a written complaint from the United Party for National Development (UPND) who questioned the successful processing of the nomination of the PF Candidate based on an alleged questionable Grade 12 Certificate. The Electoral Commission of Zambia guided that in line with the provisions of article 52(4) of the Constitution Amendment No. 2 of 2016, “A person may challenge before a court or tribunal as prescribed, the nomination of a candidate within seven days of the close of nomination and the court shall hear the case within twenty-one days of the lodgment”. The Party was advised to explore the avenue to allow for the due process of the law to be exhausted accordingly. In a media statement, Police Spokesperson Rae Hamoonga confirmed Mr. Banda’s arrest, saying the suspect has since been remanded in police custody and will appear in court soon.