Zambia's campaign ahead of the August 13 presidential and legislative elections has been marred by violence, with multiple incidents reported on May 20 during the filing of candidacies. The most prominent case involved Gary Nkombo, a former minister and ex-electoral official of the ruling UPND (United Party for National Development), who says he was attacked by masked men while submitting his independent candidacy — footage circulating on social media shows his wife shielding him as police stood back. President Hakainde Hichilema condemned the violence and called for an investigation, while the Zambia Centre for Interparty Dialogue warned that such incidents risk undermining public confidence in the democratic process and threatening the peaceful political climate the country has long maintained.