EVERY election year, Zambia is confronted with allegations of rigging, secret ballot papers, foreign voters, compromised officials and hidden training programmes. Some of these claims may arise from genuine suspicion, while others are manufactured for political advantage. Whatever their source, they cannot be treated casually. False claims about an election can destroy public confidence, delegitimise institutions and prepare citizens to reject results even before the printing of ballot papers is done. Leaders of political parties must therefore distance themselves from unverified allegations and restrain their supporters from spreading them. Anyone seeking the presidency has a....