Governance activist Isaac Mwanza has petitioned the Lusaka High Court seeking the disqualification of more than 100 parliamentary candidates who successfully filed their nominations as Independent candidates ahead of the 2026 General Election.
In his petition, Mr. Mwanza argues that the candidates filed their nominations as Independents while still being members of political parties, contrary to Article 51(a) of the Constitution, which requires an Independent candidate not to belong to any political party.
He contends that the affected candidates failed to resign or formally renounce their party membership before submitting their nomination papers to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Among the candidates named in the petition are Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo, Patriotic Front faction president Miles Sampa, and former Health Minister Dr. Chitalu Chilufya.
By Darius Choonya
