More Petitions Reach High Court

More parliamentary election petitions have flooded into the High Court as the fourteen-day constitutional window for challenging the results of the August 13 general election draws to a close, with candidates citing allegations of bribery, violence, voter intimidation and other…

More parliamentary election petitions have flooded into the High Court as the fourteen-day constitutional window for challenging the results of the August 13 general election draws to a close, with candidates citing allegations of bribery, violence, voter intimidation and other electoral irregularities across multiple constituencies.

By late afternoon, the registry at Lusaka High Court was processing a fresh wave of petition documents, including a challenge by UPND candidate Sibeso Sefulo against the election of independent Mwandi Member of Parliament Iris Kaingu.

Kaingu won the seat with 6,595 votes against Sefulo’s 6,110. Sefulo alleges that the election was characterised by bribery, corruption and undue influence of voters by Kaingu’s agents, allegedly with her knowledge and consent. She also accuses the Electoral Commission of Zambia of failing to properly supervise the counting and announcement of results, and claims ballot secrecy was breached at some polling stations, with presiding officers allegedly voting on behalf of elderly voters against their wishes. Sefulo wants the election nullified and fresh elections held, or alternatively a recount conducted.

Meanwhile, former Transport and Logistics minister Frank Tayali has filed a petition in Ndola High Court challenging the election of Resolute Party candidate Emmanuel Mulenga in Ndola Central. Tayali lost the seat by 819 votes and has cited alleged electoral irregularities.

On the Copperbelt, UPND candidates have challenged results in Chingola Central, Kabushi and Mwense. In Chingola Central, UPND candidate Joseph Kazhila is challenging NRPUP candidate Michele Phiri, who won with 21,948 votes against Kazhila’s 10,782. Kazhila alleges NRPUP supporters and agents engaged in corrupt practices, including offering food to voters and distributing money through a candidate’s husband at a polling station, an incident he says resulted in a fight among voters.

In Kabushi, UPND candidate Emeldah Mpumpuni has challenged the election of NRPUP’s Tillas Sichinga, alleging bribery, violence, obstruction of voters and campaigning on polling day, including claims that Sichinga’s agents distributed between K50 and K100 to voters using pens containing concealed money. Mpumpuni further alleges campaigning continued in Lubuto and Kafutia wards during voting, and that agents were involved in violence in several wards.

In Mwense, lawyers representing UPND candidate Susan Mulala were at Ndola High Court preparing to challenge the election of NRPUP’s David Mabumba.

Elsewhere, three private individuals have petitioned the election of NRPUP’s Rosemary Chipoya as Nchanga MP, citing alleged intimidation, violence, bribery and irregularities involving Gen 20 forms and access to voters’ registers.

Earlier petitions had already been filed in Nkana, Kalabo South, Bangweulu, Siavonga and Zambezi Central. In Nkana, UPND’s Francis Mukuka is challenging NRPUP’s Alexander Chiteme over alleged interference with electricity at polling stations, intimidation of observers and irregular transportation of election materials. Independent candidate Mooto Kalowa is challenging UPND’s Chiinga Miyutu in Kalabo South over alleged vote buying, while Anthony Kasandwe is challenging the Bangweulu result. Independent candidates Brave Mweetwa and Raphael Ngimbu have also challenged results in Siavonga and Zambezi Central respectively.

The election of Lusaka Mayor Simon Mwewa has additionally been challenged by NRPUP’s Gabriel Kibombwe.

The wave of litigation reflects the scale of contestation surrounding the August 13 vote, which has already produced a fresh parliamentary election in Mandevu constituency following a security breach, alongside sustained calls from Transparency International Zambia for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to publish full polling-station results to allow for independent verification.

With the filing window closing, legal observers expect the pace of petitions to continue through the final hours before the deadline lapses.