LONGWE REIGNITES LEGAL BATTLE OVER UPND LEADERSHIP
A fresh legal battle has emerged within the ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) after party member Charles Longwe reinitiated court proceedings challenging the legitimacy of the party’s current leadership.
This follows the Lusaka High Court’s dismissal of an earlier case in which Mr. Longwe sought to question the legality of the UPND leadership. Undeterred, Mr. Longwe has since filed a new writ of summons, this time citing the party’s Secretary General, Batuka Imenda, as the respondent.
According to documents dated April 8, 2026, seen by Diamond News, Mr. Longwe argues that the mandate of the current UPND leadership has expired and is therefore operating outside the provisions of both the national Constitution and the party’s own governing statutes.
At the center of the dispute is the party’s failure to convene an elective general conference. Mr. Longwe contends that this omission contravenes established constitutional requirements, rendering the current National Management Committee (NMC) illegitimate.
The NMC in question assumed office on February 14, 2021. Mr. Longwe is now seeking a judicial declaration that the committee is operating illegally, citing Article 56 of the UPND constitution as the basis for his claim.
The development sets the stage for a renewed legal showdown that could have significant implications for the internal governance of the ruling party, particularly at a time when political stability and institutional adherence remain under close public scrutiny.