Former Law Association of Zambia President Linda Kasonde and two others have written a petition challenging the August 13, 2026 presidential election, in which President Hakainde Hichilema was declared the winner by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
The other petitioners are governance activist Brebner Changala and LCK Freedom Foundation Limited.
The petition names the ECZ, Attorney General Mulilo Kabesha and President Hichilema as respondents.
The petitioners say their case is based, among other sources, on independent election observation records by the Christian Churches Monitoring Group (CCMG), including its Long-Term Pre-Election Observation Reports, Continuous Voter Registration Report, statements on the 2025 mobile voter registration exercise, violence during candidate nominations and its Parallel Vote Tabulation (PVT).
In an affidavit verifying the facts, the petitioners say they believe the claims concerning the deployment of the Zambia Defence Force to polling stations, totalling centres and the National Results Centre at the Mulungushi International Conference Centre are true.
They also rely on reports concerning the detention and questioning of Brian Mundubile, George Chisanga, Trevor Mwamba and former Minister Mutotwe Kafwaya by officers of the Zambia Army.
The petition also cites the ECZ statement of August 14, 2026, concerning the suspension of the counting and announcement of election results.
Other documents cited include a joint civil society organisations’ statement dated July 31, 2026, concerning SMS messages linking the Social Cash Transfer Programme to voting for President Hichilema, and a joint civil society statement dated August 20, 2026, on the killing of former Minister and opposition leader Mutotwe Kafwaya.
The petitioners have also cited various ECZ public records and press releases, including notices concerning the suspension of campaigns in Mazabuka Central Constituency and statements condemning violence in Kabwe and Chawama constituencies.
The petition comes as Zambia’s courts are on Michaelmas vacation ending on September 6, 2026.
During the court vacation, parties seeking to commence proceedings are generally required to obtain permission from the court.
By Darius Choonya
