28/05/2026
HE’S NOT LIKELY TO BE ON THE BALLOT PAPER 📄 - WHY THINGS ARE HAPPENING LIKE THIS TO GARRY
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ISAAC MWANZA PETITIONS HIGH COURT TO COMPEL ECZ TO REMOVE GARRY NKOMBO, 100 OTHER INDEPENDENT CANDIDATES FROM BALLOT
Zambia’s political landscape has been thrown into controversy after Isaac Mwanza and others filed a petition in the High Court challenging the eligibility of several parliamentary candidates contesting as independents in the upcoming 2026 general elections.
The petition, filed by Isaac Mwanza together with the Consortium of Civil Society Organisations accuses a number of aspiring Members of Parliament of unlawfully presenting themselves as independent candidates while still belonging to political parties.
At the centre of the dispute is Article 51(a) of the Constitution of Zambia, which petitioners says states that anyone contesting as an independent candidate must not be a member of any political party. The petitioners argue that many of the candidates failed to resign from their parties before filing their nominations with the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Court documents allege that some of the candidates continued openly associating with their political parties even after submitting nomination papers as independents. Others are accused of failing to provide evidence of resignation from their parties.
The petition names more than 100 candidates, senior political figures, the ECZ, the Attorney General, and officials from both the United Party for National Development (UPND) and the Patriotic Front (PF).
The petitioners are asking the High Court to nullify the nominations of the affected candidates and compel the ECZ to remove their names from the ballot paper. They argue that allowing party members to contest as independents would undermine the Constitution and compromise the integrity of the electoral process.
The petition asks the High Court to:
1. Declare the nominations unconstitutional.
2. Rule that party members cannot run as independents.
3. Cancel the nominations of the listed candidates.
4. Order the Electoral Commission to remove their names from the ballot.
See list of affected candidates below
