By 
UPND member, Charles Longwe, has maintained before the Constitutional Court that President Hakainde Hichilema’s adoption and nomination as the ruling party’s candidate for the August 2026 General Election was unconstitutional and invalid.
This is despite the United Party for National Development (UPND), the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), the Registrar of Societies and the Attorney General asking the court to dismiss the petition on grounds that the President’s adoption and nomination were lawfully conducted.
In his reply, Longwe challenged the authenticity and legality of National Management Committee (NMC) meetings that allegedly endorsed Mr Hichilema’s candidature.
Longwe argued that the office of party president was subject to democratic contestation and cited a January 2021 announcement by then UPND chairperson Garry Nkombo indicating that all party positions, including that of president, would be open for contest during the party’s elective General Assembly.
He questioned the authenticity of minutes from alleged NMC meetings held on October 11, 2025, and January 15, 2026.
“On the alleged date of the NMC meeting of 15 January 2026, the second respondent was not in Lusaka and could not have chaired or attended the meeting,” Longwe stated.
According to Longwe, a statement issued by State House Chief Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka on January 14, 2026 indicated that President Hichilema was on a working vacation attending to farming activities in Southern Province.
“Accordingly, the purported minutes recording the participation of the second respondent in the meeting are inaccurate and their authenticity is seriously questioned,” he argued.
Longwe also disputed the attendance of Vice-President Mutale Nalumango at the October 2025 meeting, stating that she was undertaking official duties in Zambezi and Kabompo districts during the period in question.
He further noted that then UPND Chairperson for Elections and Campaigns Garry Nkombo was absent from both meetings despite the alleged discussions focusing on the forthcoming General Assembly and internal party elections.
Read More: Nkombo, four other independent candidates challenge ECZ over ‘candle’ symbol
Longwe additionally argued that several individuals listed in the minutes were no longer lawful members of the National Management Committee because their terms as provincial chairpersons had expired in 2023.
“The persons named in the minutes were not entitled to participate in the deliberations or decisions of the National Management Committee after expiry of their tenure,” he submitted.
Longwe contended that the UPND Constitution required a quorum of two-thirds of National Management Committee members, which he calculated to be 76 members.
“Once the provincial chairpersons whose mandates expired are excluded, only 61 members were legally eligible to participate in the purported meeting. Consequently, the purported meetings did not satisfy the constitutional quorum requirement and any resolutions adopted are invalid and of no legal effect,” he stated.
Longwe is seeking a declaration that President Hichilema’s adoption and nomination as the UPND presidential candidate for the 2026 General Election did not comply with the party’s constitution and is therefore null and void.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments