Munir Zulu constitutionally eligible to contest Thursday 13th August 2026 Lumezi parliamentary seat
Makebi Zulu welcomes Munir Zulu
By Musterd Phiri
The release of Munir Zulu, the former Lumezi Member of Parliament has sparked heated debate, can he stand again in the forthcoming General Elections after serving his sentence? The Constitution provides a clear answer – yes, he can.
Article 70(2)(f) of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment Act No. 2 of 2016) disqualifies a person from being elected as a Member of Parliament if they have been convicted and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of at least three years.
Zulu’s sentence was less than three years. Having served his time, he does not fall within the constitutional bar. The law restores his political rights, leaving the ultimate decision to the electorate.
This is not the first time Zambia has witnessed politicians return to the political arena after serving shorter sentences.
Chishimba Kambwili was sentenced to five months imprisonment for hate speech. After serving his sentence, he resumed active political participation and he has fronted himself as a Presidential aspirant, this demonstrates that shorter sentences do not bar candidacy.
Comparatively, in several African jurisdictions, leaders have re-entered politics after serving sentences below constitutional thresholds, reinforcing the principle that rehabilitation restores civic rights.
The Constitution sets objective standards, not moral judgments. Once a sentence below three years is served, civic rights are restored. The principle is clear, punishment ends with the sentence, and political eligibility resumes thereafter.
Ultimately, it is the people, not legal technicalities, who decide whether to entrust leadership to someone with a criminal record. The ballot box, not the courtroom, will determine his future.
In summary, the Constitution is unambiguous. Munir Zulu’s sentence was below the three-year threshold, meaning he is eligible to contest the August elections. Should he decide to contest, the matter will rests with the voters, who will weigh his past against his vision for the future.
In the end, the law has spoken, eligibility is intact, and democracy will decide.
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