OPPOSITION MAKES MAJOR PARLIAMENTARY GAINS AS ZAMBIA AWAITS OFFICIAL ECZ RESULTS
By LusakaTimes
Opposition makes major parliamentary gains as Zambia awaits official ECZ results
Early constituency-level declarations and reports from Zambia’s August 13 general election are pointing to major changes in the composition of the National Assembly, with the NRPUP recording a string of reported parliamentary victories, particularly on the Copperbelt, while several prominent incumbents have reportedly lost their seats.
The emerging results have also seen several former Members of Parliament returning to Manda Hill, among them Dr Chishimba Kambwili, Alexander Chiteme, Frank Ng’ambi and Jean Kapata, according to constituency-level reports circulating following Thursday’s vote.
However, the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) remains the official authority for election results. Many of the parliamentary victories being announced or reported from constituency tallying centres are yet to be reflected on the Commission’s central results platform today Friday.
ECZ Chief Executive Officer Brown Kasaro has assured the country that the Commission is committed to the timely transmission and release of results within the agreed 72-hour period. He explained that results reaching the Commission have to be supported by prescribed documents used in the results management system.
Kasaro said where discrepancies are detected in documents transmitted from constituencies, the Commission will send them back for verification before incorporating the figures into its official results. This means some constituency results may already be publicly known locally while the ECZ national platform is yet to display them.
NRPUP makes major Copperbelt gains
Some of the clearest reported NRPUP gains are emerging from the Copperbelt, where the party has picked up a number of parliamentary constituencies and returned several former MPs to Parliament.
In Nkana Constituency, former MP Alexander Chiteme has been reported as winning the parliamentary election on the NRPUP ticket after defeating UPND candidate Francis Mukuka. The victory returns Chiteme to Parliament after previously representing Nkana.
In Wusakile Constituency, Pavyuma Kalobo has also been reported as winning for NRPUP. Kalobo’s victory is particularly notable because he was unable to physically conduct much of his campaign due to illness, with party officials and supporters campaigning on his behalf.
NRPUP has also reportedly taken Chifubu Constituency through former MP Frank Ng’ambi, while Emmanuel Mulenga has been reported as winning Ndola Central. The two results give the party important parliamentary victories in Ndola.
In Kabushi Constituency, Tilus Sichinga has also been reported as having won the parliamentary contest, adding another seat to the emerging opposition gains on the Copperbelt.
The party has also recorded reported victories in the Chingola area. Michelle Phiri Kazala has won Chingola Central, while Rosemary Chipoya has been reported as winning Nchanga Constituency.
Boris Chansa has meanwhile been reported as winning Chingola West, which would give NRPUP all three of the parliamentary seats being reported from the Chingola area.
In Konkola Constituency, Lucky Sichone, popularly known as “Obama”, has also been reported as winning the parliamentary election, adding to the opposition’s growing list of reported Copperbelt victories.
The newly created Lima Constituency has also reportedly gone to NRPUP through Kelvin Kaunda.
Chishala takes Kabwe Central
In Central Province, NRPUP parliamentary candidate and former Kabwe Mayor Patrick Chishala has been reported as winning Kabwe Central Constituency, defeating incumbent UPND Member of Parliament Chrizoster Halwindi Phiri.
Chishala’s victory marks his return to elected office, this time as a Member of Parliament, after previously serving as Mayor of Kabwe. The result gives NRPUP another reported parliamentary gain outside its growing collection of Copperbelt seats.
NRPUP picks up seats in Muchinga
In Muchinga Province, Francis Kapyanga has been reported as winning Mpika North, while Kanungwe Chota Kanyanyamina has reportedly taken Lwitikila Constituency for NRPUP.
Another reported NRPUP victory has come from Mwenzo Constituency in Nakonde, where Lukas Simumba has been reported as winning the parliamentary contest.
The province has also produced a major reported casualty for the UPND, with incumbent Sunday Chanda reportedly losing Kanchibiya Constituency. The winner of the constituency will be added to the running list once the complete result is established.
Yenga takes Kabwata as Kapata returns
In Lusaka Province, Danny Yenga has been reported as winning Kabwata Constituency for NRPUP, giving the opposition party an important parliamentary seat in the capital.
Former Cabinet minister Jean Kapata has also been reported among the NRPUP winners, marking another political comeback for the veteran politician. Chilando Chitangala is similarly being reported among the party’s parliamentary winners as more constituency results emerge.
The UPND has, however, registered a reported victory in the newly created Roma Constituency, where Ross Kasikili has been reported as the winner.
Kambwili returns to Manda Hill
Among the biggest political names returning to Parliament is Dr Chishimba Kambwili, popularly known as “King Cobra”, who has been reported as winning Roan Constituency under the Citizens First Party.
The victory marks Kambwili’s return to Manda Hill after years outside Parliament and gives Citizens First a parliamentary presence in the emerging National Assembly.
Independents record victories
Independent candidates are also featuring in the emerging parliamentary picture. Iris Kaingu Kamwi has been reported as winning Mwandi Constituency after contesting as an Independent.
In Kafulafuta Constituency, Independent candidate Jeffrey Mulebwa has similarly been reported as winning the parliamentary seat.
Another major reported upset has come from Chongwe East, where Independent candidate Anita Kamanga is reported to have defeated former Health Minister and incumbent MP Sylvia Masebo.
UPND records victories and enters election with unopposed MPs
Despite the opposition gains, the UPND is continuing to secure parliamentary representation. In Mpongwe West, UPND parliamentary candidate Emmanuel Kasambo, popularly known as “Lamba Bull”, has been reported as winning the seat.
The ruling party also entered election day with parliamentary candidates who had already been duly elected unopposed after no rival candidates remained to contest their constituencies.
Among those reported as elected unopposed are Trevor Mwiinde Sialunga in Choma South, Edgar Siakachoma in Kalomo South, Vumango Musumali in Zambezi West, Clement Andeleki in Kazungula North, Siakole Nchimunya in Sinazongwe and Jack Mwiimbu in Monze East.
Those constituencies have to be included when assessing the eventual balance of power in the National Assembly even though no parliamentary vote was required in the affected seats.
More incumbent MPs fall
The developing parliamentary picture has produced a number of reported casualties among incumbent MPs. Robert Chabinga has reportedly lost Mafinga Constituency, while Sunday Chanda has reportedly lost Kanchibiya.
Social media reports are also claiming defeats involving several other incumbent MPs, including Sibongile Mwamba, George Chisanga, Kampamba Mulenga and others. These have not been included as confirmed constituency outcomes in this report until the respective winners and complete constituency results are sufficiently established.
Parliamentary picture emerging so far
Constituency Winner / Development Party Status:
Roan Dr Chishimba Kambwili CF Reported winner
Kabwe Central Patrick Chishala NRPUP Reported winner
Nkana Alexander Chiteme NRPUP Reported winner
Wusakile Pavyuma Kalobo NRPUP Reported winner
Chifubu Frank Ng’ambi NRPUP Reported winner
Ndola Central Emmanuel Mulenga NRPUP Reported winner
Kabushi Tilus Sichinga NRPUP Reported winner
Chingola Central Michelle Phiri Kazala NRPUP Reported winner
Nchanga Rosemary Chipoya NRPUP Reported winner
Chingola West Boris Chansa NRPUP Reported winner
Konkola Lucky Sichone NRPUP Reported winner
Lima Kelvin Kaunda NRPUP Reported winner
Mpika North Francis Kapyanga NRPUP Reported winner
Lwitikila Kanungwe Chota Kanyanyamina NRPUP Reported winner
Mwenzo Lukas Simumba NRPUP Reported winner
Kabwata Danny Yenga NRPUP Reported winner
Mwandi Iris Kaingu Kamwi Independent Reported winner
Kafulafuta Jeffrey Mulebwa Independent Reported winner
Chongwe East Anita Kamanga Independent Reported winner
Roma Ross Kasikili UPND Reported winner
Mpongwe West Emmanuel Kasambo UPND Reported winner
Choma South Trevor Mwiinde Sialunga UPND Elected unopposed
Kalomo South Edgar Siakachoma UPND Elected unopposed
Zambezi West Vumango Musumali UPND Elected unopposed
Kazungula North Clement Andeleki UPND Elected unopposed
Sinazongwe Siakole Nchimunya UPND Elected unopposed
Monze East Jack Mwiimbu UPND Elected unopposed
Mafinga Robert Chabinga loses UPND Winner to be established
Kanchibiya Sunday Chanda loses UPND Winner to be established
The list remains preliminary. It reflects constituency-level declarations and reports available while the ECZ continues receiving, verifying and processing official results documentation from constituencies across Zambia.
The distinction is important. Results declared or reported at constituency level can become publicly known before they appear on the national results platform. However, the Electoral Commission of Zambia remains the official authority for the election results, and figures released by the Commission should be treated as definitive.
Similarly, results from individual polling stations should not be used to declare a parliamentary winner. Polling-station results have to be aggregated through the constituency tallying process before the complete result can be established.
Kasaro has said that where documentation submitted to ECZ contains discrepancies, it will be returned for verification before the figures are incorporated into the Commission’s results management system.
He also described the August 13 elections as having generally taken place in a peaceful atmosphere, while acknowledging incidents requiring attention, including complications involving students at the University of Zambia and an incident in Pambashe involving a candidate who reportedly went to vote accompanied by an unregistered relative.
The parliamentary picture is therefore expected to continue changing as more constituencies complete tallying and their documentation moves through the ECZ verification and results management process.
For now, the emerging picture shows NRPUP making substantial reported parliamentary gains, particularly on the Copperbelt, CF returning Kambwili to Parliament, Independent candidates winning several constituencies and the UPND combining its contested victories with seats already secured unopposed.
The definitive composition of the next National Assembly, including the exact number of seats secured by each political party and Independent candidates, will become clear as the Electoral Commission of Zambia releases the official results.