89 Views Independent presidential hopeful Reverend Doctor Given Katuta will head to the 13th August 2026 General Election without her chosen running mate after John Nyirenda formally pulled out of the race. In a letter sent to the Chief Electoral Officer at the Electoral Commission of Zambia, Nyirenda confirmed that he was stepping aside with […]

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Independent presidential hopeful Reverend Doctor Given Katuta will head to the 13th August 2026 General Election without her chosen running mate after John Nyirenda formally pulled out of the race.

In a letter sent to the Chief Electoral Officer at the Electoral Commission of Zambia, Nyirenda confirmed that he was stepping aside with immediate effect.

He said the decision was not made in haste, but followed extensive discussions with his family, close associates and traditional leaders from his community.

“I hereby formally notify the Electoral Commission of Zambia of my decision to withdraw as the Running Mate to the Independent Presidential Candidate, Rev. Dr. Given Katuta, for the August 2026 General Election,” the letter stated.

To support his notification, Nyirenda also attached a copy of his National Registration Card so that the Commission could verify his identity and process the withdrawal accordingly.

He asked ECZ to take note of the development and update its records to reflect that he is no longer on Katuta’s ticket.

The timing of the withdrawal is significant because Zambia is now less than a month away from polling day.

Ballot papers have either been printed or are at an advanced stage of production, and campaigns are already in full swing across the country.

This means the name of John Nyirenda will likely still appear next to Given Katuta’s on the ballot, even though he has publicly disassociated himself from the candidacy.

Katuta now joins a growing group of presidential contenders who have had to deal with last-minute changes to their running mate line-up.

Citizens First leader Harry Kalaba and Organized People’s Party president Dr Brian Mushimba have also seen their deputies step down in recent weeks.

The wave of withdrawals has created uncertainty and raised questions about how the electoral process will handle such cases.

At the center of the debate is what the law says about a candidate whose running mate withdraws after nominations have closed.

The Constitution is clear that a presidential candidate must nominate a running mate, and both names appear jointly on the ballot.

However, it is not explicit on what happens if the running mate resigns after that point.

Because of this gap, the matter has been taken to the Constitutional Court.

The court is expected to pronounce itself on whether a presidential candidate can continue to contest when their running mate has withdrawn, and whether votes cast for that ticket will still be valid.

Until a ruling is made, both candidates and voters are in limbo.

For Katuta, the withdrawal is a major setback. As an independent candidate, she does not have the backing of a big political party structure, and the choice of a running mate is critical in signaling unity, regional balance and credibility.

Nyirenda was presented as part of that package, and his exit will force her campaign team to re-strategize just weeks before Zambians go to the polls.

Political analysts say the trend of running mates stepping down points to pressure within campaigns, disagreements over strategy, and in some cases personal reasons that have nothing to do with politics.

In Nyirenda’s case, he emphasized that his decision was voluntary and was reached after consulting family and traditional leadership. He did not cite any dispute with Katuta in his letter to ECZ.

The Electoral Commission is yet to issue a public statement on how it will treat the withdrawal, but officials are expected to wait for guidance from the Constitutional Court before making any administrative changes.

For now, ECZ has simply acknowledged receipt of Nyirenda’s letter.

With the election date fast approaching, the issue has become more than a technical legal question. It touches on voter education, ballot integrity and public confidence.

Many voters may not be aware that a name on the ballot no longer represents an active candidate.

Others may cast their vote not knowing that the person they are voting for as vice president has already withdrawn.

Civil society organizations have called for urgent clarity from both the court and ECZ so that voters are not misled. They argue that transparency now will help avoid disputes after the election.

As for Given Katuta, she has not yet addressed the public on Nyirenda’s decision.

Her campaign team is expected to issue a statement in the coming days. Whether she will try to replace Nyirenda, continue alone, or wait for the court’s direction remains to be seen.

What is clear is that with 23 days to go until August 13, Zambia’s presidential race is taking unexpected turns, and the Constitutional Court’s upcoming ruling could shape not just Katuta’s campaign, but the fate of several other candidates in a similar situation.