Kasonde, 2 Others File Petition Challenging August 13 Presidential Election Results

5 Views Zambia’s August 13 presidential election has been taken to court after former Law Association of Zambia President Linda Kasonde and two other petitioners filed a challenge against the declaration of President Hakainde Hichilema as winner. The other petitioners are governance activist Brebner Changala and the LCK Freedom Foundation Limited. They have named the […]

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Zambia’s August 13 presidential election has been taken to court after former Law Association of Zambia President Linda Kasonde and two other petitioners filed a challenge against the declaration of President Hakainde Hichilema as winner.

The other petitioners are governance activist Brebner Changala and the LCK Freedom Foundation Limited. They have named the Electoral Commission of Zambia, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha, and President Hichilema as respondents in the matter.

According to the petition, the case is built on independent election monitoring records. These include reports from the Christian Churches Monitoring Group covering long-term pre-election observations, the continuous voter registration exercise, the 2025 mobile voter registration, incidents of violence during candidate nominations, and the group’s Parallel Vote Tabulation.

In an affidavit supporting the filing, the petitioners state that they believe reports of the Zambia Defence Force being deployed to polling stations, tally centers, and the National Results Centre at Mulungushi International Conference Centre are true. They also refer to the detention and questioning of opposition figures Brian Mundubile, George Chisanga, Trevor Mwamba and former Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya by Zambia Army officers.

The petition further cites an ECZ statement issued on August 14, 2026 announcing a suspension of vote counting and result announcements. It also includes a July 31, 2026 joint civil society statement on SMS messages allegedly linking the Social Cash Transfer Programme to voting for President Hichilema, and an August 20, 2026 joint statement on the killing of former Minister and opposition leader Mutotwe Kafwaya.

Other documents attached are ECZ public notices, including the suspension of campaigns in Mazabuka Central Constituency, and statements condemning violence in Kabwe and Chawama.

The petition was filed during the Michaelmas court vacation, which runs until September 6, 2026. Court rules require that parties seeking to start proceedings during vacation must first obtain permission from the court.

President Hichilema was declared winner of the August 13 poll by the ECZ. The petitioners are now asking the court for a judicial review of that declaration.

Reacting to the filing, Rev. Dr. Kelvin Mugala, a clergyman and advocate for good governance and constitutional rights, praised the petitioners for their courage.

He said the effort to submit the petition, despite reported security challenges at the Judiciary and problems with electronic filing, showed commitment to constitutionalism.

“We now prayerfully appeal to the Constitutional Court and relevant court officials to receive the documents in accordance with the law and to consider every submission thoroughly, independently and impartially,” he said.

Rev. Mugala added that a petition is not an act of hostility but a lawful way of raising constitutional questions before the courts. “All parties must therefore be given a fair hearing, without intimidation or interference. Whatever the eventual decision, justice must not only be done — it must be seen to be done. May truth, due process and the Constitution prevail.”

He concluded by thanking Ms Kasonde and her fellow petitioners “for standing up for the people’s constitutional right to be heard.”