ECZ Says High Court Should Dismiss Silvia Masebo’s Election Petition. She Lost Fairly And Squarely, Says Anita Kamanga Was Duly Elected With 16,058 Votes

ECZ DEFENDS CHONGWE EAST RESULT, SAYS ANITA KAMANGA WAS DULY ELECTED WITH 16,058 VOTES Lusaka, 15 September 2026 — The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has defended the outcome of the Chongwe East parliamentary election, maintaining that the poll was conducted freely, fairly and in accordance with Zambia’s electoral laws. The position is contained in […]

ECZ DEFENDS CHONGWE EAST RESULT, SAYS ANITA KAMANGA WAS DULY ELECTED WITH 16,058 VOTES

Lusaka, 15 September 2026 — The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has defended the outcome of the Chongwe East parliamentary election, maintaining that the poll was conducted freely, fairly and in accordance with Zambia’s electoral laws.

The position is contained in court documents filed in the High Court of Zambia in the election petition brought by Sylvia Tembo Masebo against Anita Kamanga and the Electoral Commission of Zambia under Cause No. 2026/HP/EP/014.

According to an affidavit by Chongwe East Returning Officer John Musaulule Lungu, Anita Kamanga was declared the duly elected Member of Parliament for Chongwe East on 15 August 2026 after receiving 16,058 votes. The election itself was held on 13 August 2026.

Masebo is challenging the parliamentary election and is seeking to have the declared result invalidated and nullified. ECZ, cited as the second respondent, has rejected the allegations and is asking the court to uphold the election.

In its arguments, ECZ maintains that voting, counting, tallying and declaration of results were conducted in substantial compliance with the Constitution, the Electoral Process Act and the Electoral Code of Conduct.

The Commission further argues that the burden rests on the petitioner to provide sufficiently strong evidence of electoral non-compliance, irregularities or malpractice capable of affecting the validity of the election. It contends that general allegations are insufficient to overturn the democratic choice of voters.

ECZ also argues that even where minor administrative or procedural discrepancies may be established, an election should not be nullified unless those irregularities are shown to have materially affected the final result.

The Commission has consequently asked the High Court to dismiss Masebo’s petition with costs, maintaining that the Chongwe East election was conducted lawfully, transparently and in accordance with Zambia’s electoral framework.

The documents represent ECZ’s defence to the petition and not a judgment by the High Court. The court will ultimately determine whether the grounds advanced by the petitioner are sufficient to disturb the declared Chongwe East parliamentary election result.