Former Kabwata MP withdraws petition against election of NRPUP’s Yenga

FORMER Kabwata lawmaker Andrew Tayengwa of the ruling United Party for National Development has withdrawn his election petition challenging the victory of Danny Yenga of the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity.

Tayengwa filed the petition at the Lusaka High Court after losing the Kabwata seat in the Aug. 13 general election. He alleged electoral malpractice and asked the court to nullify Yenga’s election and order a fresh poll within 90 days.

According to official results, Yenga won with 31,565 votes, while Tayengwa, the incumbent, polled 21,114 votes. The results were declared on Aug. 17.

The case had cleared a preliminary hurdle last week when High Court Judge Mary Mulanda dismissed an application by Yenga seeking to have it thrown out for being filed out of time.

Yenga’s lawyers argued he was declared winner on Aug. 15, which would have placed Tayengwa’s Aug. 31 filing two days outside the 14-day limit set by Section 100(3) of the Electoral Process Act. Tayengwa’s legal team said the Aug. 15 date was a typographical error.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia, in an affidavit, confirmed the declaration was on Aug. 17. Judge Mulanda ruled the petition was filed within time, held that the court had jurisdiction, and ordered the trial to proceed. Witnesses for the petitioner had begun testifying.

Tayengwa’s withdrawal ends the challenge to the Kabwata result, one of several petitions lodged after the August elections.

(Mwebantu, Tuesday, 13th October, 2026