OFFICIAL WITHDRAWAL LETTER SERVED TO ECZ: Xavier Chungu Exits Presidential Race, Endorses Brian Mundubile Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential candidate Xavier Franklin Chungu has formally withdrawn from the 13 August 2026 presidential election and endorsed National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile. In an official letter dated 20 July 2026, […]

OFFICIAL WITHDRAWAL LETTER SERVED TO ECZ: Xavier Chungu Exits Presidential Race, Endorses Brian Mundubile

Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) presidential candidate Xavier Franklin Chungu has formally withdrawn from the 13 August 2026 presidential election and endorsed National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) presidential candidate Brian Mundubile.

In an official letter dated 20 July 2026, which was received by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) on 21 July 2026, Chungu notified the Commission that he and his running mate had made the decision to withdraw their candidature from the presidential race.

Chungu attributed his withdrawal to his continued detention following his arrest on 28 May 2026, stating that despite being granted bail by the High Court on 4 June, he was immediately rearrested on bailable charges, preventing him from actively participating in the election campaign.

“A fair election requires a level playing field,” Chungu wrote, adding that contesting the election from prison had denied him and his running mate a genuine democratic opportunity to campaign before the Zambian people.

The LDP leader further announced that both he and his party were throwing their full support behind Brian Mundubile and his running mate, Makebi Zulu, saying they are best placed to restore the rule of law and protect Zambia’s democratic freedoms.

In the same letter, Chungu requested the ECZ to update its official records, registers and ballot materials to reflect his withdrawal and to reallocate campaign dates, venues and other campaign opportunities previously assigned to his candidature to Brian Mundubile.