Mundubile rejects presidential election results and vows legal challenge

Mundubile rejects presidential election results and vows legal challenge NRPUP president Brian Mundubile has rejected Zambia’s announced 2026 presidential election results, saying his party does not believe they accurately reflect what happened during the electoral process and will use available legal channels to challenge disputed results. Lusaka, 18 August – In a statement following the […]

Mundubile rejects presidential election results and vows legal challenge

NRPUP president Brian Mundubile has rejected Zambia’s announced 2026 presidential election results, saying his party does not believe they accurately reflect what happened during the electoral process and will use available legal channels to challenge disputed results.

Lusaka, 18 August – In a statement following the announcement of the presidential results, Mr Mundubile said the NRPUP had documented what it considered irregularities involving the security, transportation and handling of ballot papers and other electoral materials.

He also alleged discrepancies between figures recorded at individual polling stations and results subsequently announced, saying the party had gathered documents and other evidence which would be submitted to the relevant legal institutions within the prescribed period.

“The results announced last night are not results that we accept as a true reflection of what took place across this election,” Mr Mundubile said.

He said that, regardless of the declared outcome, the number of votes won by the NRPUP demonstrated significant public support for the opposition party and pledged to continue representing those who voted for him.

Mr Mundubile also rejected allegations linking the NRPUP, its campaign or people associated with the party to an alleged insurgency or threat to national security.

He said the party’s campaign had been based on peace and democratic participation and had never advocated violence or sought to obtain political power through force.

The opposition leader also raised concerns over the detention of his campaign manager, Davies Chisopa, and called for what he described as an immediate, lawful and transparent explanation from the authorities.

Mr Mundubile said that if Mr Chisopa was suspected of committing an offence, authorities should provide evidence and allow the allegations to be tested before a court, while ensuring that his rights under Zambian law were protected.

He further said he was currently under protection after allegedly receiving threats to his life.

Mr Mundubile also gave an account of an incident at his residence, claiming that armed men entered the property and that shots were fired while he and others were unarmed and hiding because they feared for their lives.

He alleged that former Lunte MP Mutotwe Kafwaya was shot during the incident, saying he personally witnessed it..

According to Mr Mundubile, Mr Kafwaya was later reported missing and his family had not received an adequate explanation about his whereabouts or condition.

He called on the authorities to disclose immediately whether Mr Kafwaya was being held by any state agency and, if so, to explain the legal basis for his detention and provide his family and lawyers with access to him.

If Mr Kafwaya was not in state custody, Mr Mundubile said authorities had a responsibility to establish his whereabouts and investigate what had happened to him.

Turning to the election, the NRPUP leader said his party would challenge what it regarded as evidence of possible electoral manipulation and ballot tampering.

He cited concerns over electoral documentation, the so-called “G20 papers”, the transportation and security of ballot materials and discrepancies allegedly identified by party representatives.

Mr Mundubile said the allegations should be resolved through evidence and established legal procedures rather than political rhetoric…

“We will challenge those results for which we believe there are lawful grounds to do so,” he said, while stressing that the NRPUP would pursue its case peacefully and within the law.

He also appealed to regional and international partners, election observers and democratic institutions to remain engaged with developments in Zambia.

Mr Mundubile argued that concerns over alleged political violence, detention, intimidation and the conduct of the election should continue to receive attention even after the declaration of the results.

Despite rejecting the presidential outcome, he urged NRPUP supporters to remain calm and avoid retaliation or provocation.

“There will be no call from me for violence. There will be no call from the NRPUP for retaliation,” he said.

He urged supporters not to allow anger or provocation to undermine what he described as a peaceful democratic movement, saying the party would allow its evidence to be examined through lawful channels.

Mr Mundubile said the NRPUP would provide further details about its intended legal action in due course and concluded by calling for peace as the party seeks answers over the election, arrests, detentions and other incidents surrounding the conclusion of the electoral process.

-Nkanionline 2026 #NewsOnDemand