Zambian High Court annuls election of UPND MP
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Zambian Observer
The Livingstone High Court has annulled the election of Emeldah Munashabantu, the UPND MP for Mapatizya constituency. The 13 August 2026 vote was set aside because of irregularities in the post-election process, including violence at a counting centre, the Zambian Observer reports.
The Livingstone High Court has annulled the election of Emeldah Munashabantu, an MP for the ruling UPND party, in the Mapatizya constituency, in Zimba District. Judge Kazimbe Chenda found that serious irregularities in the post-election process had affected the result of the 13 August 2026 parliamentary election, according to Mwebantu.
The petition was filed by Clive Darius Miyanda over misconduct and procedural irregularities. The judge dismissed the allegation of misconduct against Ms Munashabantu, but upheld the claims of failures in the count following violence at the Kabanga collation centre. The Electoral Commission of Zambia must pay the petitioner’s legal costs, with the amount to be determined if the parties cannot agree.
Ms Munashabantu loses her seat pending any appeal to the Constitutional Court. If no appeal is filed, or if it fails, the Speaker of the National Assembly will declare the seat vacant, paving the way for a by-election in Mapatizya.
