Tayengwa withdraws Kabwata petition
By Charles Musonda
LOSING United Party for National Development (UPND) Kabwata parliamentary candidate Andrew Tayengwa has withdrawn his election petition against National Reconciliation Party for National Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP)’s Danny Yenga.
Tayengwa’s lawyer applied for leave to apply for withdrawal of the petition before Lusaka High Court judge Mary Mulanda.
Justice Mulanda has since granted the petitioners leave and the application will be heard in the next two days.
And the Chipata High Court has set November 25 for judgment in the Chadiza West Constituency election petition case.
This is in a case in which UPND losing candidate Jonathan Daka is seeking the nullification of the results of NRPUP winner Obert Phiri.
Daka is challenging the election of Phiri, alleging irregularities in the August 13 elections.
Phiri was declared winner after polling 8,566 votes against Daka’s 7,085 votes, with a margin of 1,481 votes.
When the case came up before judge Dorcas Munkombwe Malama, Daka cited intimidation by the opposition.
He said the UPND Chadiza Ward chairlady was stopped from conducting door-to-door campaigns for him after being threatened.
Her life was in danger because people were killed in politics.
Daka said there was violence in Tikondane Ward, where members of the NRPUP allegedly beat up a voter, a situation he said prevented people from turning up to vote in large numbers.
He also accused Phiri of campaigning on voting day, where he was allegedly flashing the NRPUP party symbol and distributing pens to voters in some wards in Chadiza West Constituency.
Daka also accused the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in Chadiza of announcing results and declaring the winner in the absence of UPND representatives at the totalling centre.
He said Phiri was seen distributing unbranded chitenge materials to women in Chanjowe Ward at Chiyambi Polling Station between July and August before elections.
In his defence, Phiri denied all allegations by the petitioner and told the court that ECZ worked professionally and handled the electoral process in a professional manner.
Justice Malama has set November 25, 2026, as the date for judgment in the matter.
Ends.
