2026 ELECTIONS WERE NOT FREE AND FAIR, SAYS PAUL KABUSWE.
A petition has been filed in the High Court for Zambia at Lusaka challenging the parliamentary election for Chililabombwe Constituency held on August 13, 2026, with petitioner Paul Chanda Chongo Kabuswe alleging irregularities in the electoral process.
The petition, filed under cause number 2026/HP/EP/007 and stamped on August 28, 2026, names Nsofwa Kabwe Lupele as the first respondent and the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as the second respondent
Kabuswe, who identifies himself as a candidate in the election, has brought the petition under various provisions of the Constitution of Zambia, the Electoral Process Act No. 35 of 2016, the Electoral Process (Code of Conduct) and the High Court (Election Petition) Rules, 2026.
Among the grounds cited in the petition, Kabuswe alleges that on August 14, 2026, the ECZ suspended the counting of votes at polling stations across the country for approximately six hours, from around 12:00 hours to 18:00 hours.
He further alleges that records showing how voting materials were safeguarded by presiding officers during the suspension were not produced
Kabuswe also claims that his election agents were not allowed to attend the constituency tallying centre at the Civic Centre in Chililabombwe.
According to the petition, this resulted in none of his agents attesting to Form GEN 20B, whose witness section reportedly contains the signatures of seven individuals, none of whom Kabuswe identifies as his agent or representative.
The petitioner is challenging the conduct of the election, arguing that the alleged irregularities raise questions about the transparency and credibility of the electoral process.
The allegations are contained in the election petition and have yet to be established by the court.
Zambian Watch.