KAUNDA DENIES WIDESPREAD VIOLENCE IN LIMA ELECTION PETITION
National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) Lima Constituency Member of Parliament Kelvin Kaunda has denied that widespread violence occurred during the August 13, 2026 general election, telling the Lusaka High Court that there were only isolated incidents.
Mr Kaunda, 43, made the remarks while testifying in the Lima Constituency election petition, which is being heard by Ndola High Court Judge Derrick Mulenga sitting at the Lusaka High Court.
He confirmed that he voted at Ballastone Secondary School polling station between 09:30 and 10:00 hours before proceeding to Eden University, where he arrived at approximately 10:20 hours.
However, he said there was no photograph of him at the institution.
Mr Kaunda further confirmed that he later escorted NRPUP presidential candidate Brian Mundubile to vote at Olympia Secondary School, where they were present between 12:00 and 13:00 hours.
Asked whether footage of him at the polling station with Mr Mundubile was available, Mr Kaunda said it had been posted on the presidential candidate’s Facebook page.
He told the court that Lima Constituency had 13 polling stations and recorded a voter turnout of approximately 47.7 per cent.
Mr Kaunda further testified that there were no objections following the counting of ballots at the polling stations.
Although he confirmed that he went straight home after leaving Olympia Secondary School, he disagreed with the suggestion that he could not have known whether objections had been raised because he was not physically present at the polling stations.
He also confirmed that he had received reports alleging that United Party for National Development (UPND) members assaulted NRPUP supporters in the Ballastone area on July 10, 2026.
However, he told the court that he was not physically present when the alleged incident occurred.
Mr Kaunda said he had been informed that three people were affected by the reported attacks.
Meanwhile, another witness, Matthews Kangwa, 60, of Lusaka’s Balastone area, testified that he had previously belonged to the Patriotic Front (PF) before joining NRPUP.
Mr Kangwa told the court that he had never resigned from the PF, just like Lee Mukupa, the UPND aspiring candidate for Lima Constituency in the August 13, 2026 general election.
Asked whether he belonged to both PF and NRPUP, Mr Kangwa said the PF had been sold.
He disclosed that he worked as a supervisor for general and construction workers at Eden University, a private institution located in Lima Constituency.
Mr Kangwa confirmed that Mr Kaunda was his boss and paid his salary but denied that his participation in the petition was motivated by a desire to protect his employment.
He said he was employed on a permanent contract, while general workers were engaged on two-year contracts.
The witness further testified that in July 2026, he received a telephone call from the construction site at Eden University and subsequently saw three vehicles bearing UPND branding, carrying approximately 12 people led by Mr Mukupa.
Mr Kangwa said he did not engage the occupants of the vehicles but confirmed that some workers were attacked at around 07:00 hours.
He told the court that workers usually reported for duty at approximately 06:30 hours and that three workers sustained injuries during the alleged incident.
Mr Kangwa said he was at the Eden University site when the incident occurred and saw the injured workers, who had been inside a building during the attack.
He testified that one victim sustained a cut on the forehead, another suffered broken legs, while the third sustained injuries to the back.
The witness identified the victims as Joseph Phiri, Mr Banda and Mr Sakala. He added that Mr Sakala’s bicycle was allegedly stolen during the incident.
Mr Kangwa further alleged that the attackers used pangas and stones and confirmed that the matter was reported to Balastone Police Post.
Meanwhile, Mr Kaunda remains in detention as of today, October 27, 2026, having been arrested on October 15 over allegations that he assaulted Anthony Mwamba, a UPND supporter, during a roadshow campaign on August 7, 2026.
He remains in custody despite his sureties having been presented.