JOHN SANGWA WITHDRAWS FROM AUGUST PRESIDENTIAL RACE, RETURNS TO LEGAL PRACTICE
RENOWNED lawyer John Sangwa has withdrawn from the August 2026 presidential race, citing structural and legal barriers that have hindered his Movement for National Renewal from effectively participating in the electoral process.
In a statement, Mr. Sangwa says the movement faced significant challenges, including delayed registration by the Registrar of Societies, restrictions on nationwide mobilisation by the Zambia Police, and difficulties in raising campaign funds due to fears among supporters over traceability of contributions.
He explains that these obstacles created a “practically impossible” environment for the movement to meet the minimum requirements for participation in the general election.
Mr. Sangwa has also disclosed that he had declined offers from other political parties to stand as a presidential candidate or running mate, stressing that such arrangements would undermine the movement’s founding principles and amount to endorsing an unfair process.
Despite the setback, he has acknowledged the support of over one million Zambians who backed the initiative.
Sangwa has since announced his return to legal practice, where he intends to focus on governance and constitutional matters, while also dedicating more time to his family.
Diamond TV
I mean, that was expected. Politics is not for everyone. DO what you know best chief.
Watch out! Don’t be his first client or ye will choke you with his first legal consultation Bill.
Ba Sangwa I think behind the curtains, thanks go to Mrs Sangwa for the timely advice. You weren’t ready for this big job, honestly you weren’t. Impulse not reality drove your intention.
Do not entertain regret for having coiled back to where you belong. I think you’re pressure free where you are. Life goes on even much better when you’re a spectator issuing the John Sangwa SC constructive critiques to HH and team after 13thAugust 2026 or if you can’t beat them-join them..chapwa!
Poor timing!
Registering a Political Party is always Political most especially if you are known to be hardcore critic of the party in Government.
Sangwa must know better than expected that finger prints are required to have credible personal in position to Govern.
I am shocked that Sangwa thought that the citizens would fund a political party. Today those who are crying the loudest were benefiting from Kasaka kandalama.
So think that K 100,000,000.00
Poor planning and ambitious task of thinking people from nowhere will just buy in your party ideology. There is no current crisis in Zambian politics for Zambians to have an appetite for a wannabe survivor. If JS was serious about genuinely contesting 2026 elections, he would have started his movement long ago in readiness for this year’s elections. What he has just displayed is his greedy urgency for power at the expense of vulnerable citizens. Well, your poor planning doesn’t constitute an urgency to due processes. I agree, the institutions may have been used to frustrate the process, this cannot be disputed however part of planning in Africa or anywhere else is to build in these artificial roadblocks by those who currently run the system. I wish such things can be changed however as long as humans run these systems you will never get a utopia. The best we can do is plan better so that no matter how long the process takes, the objectives may be met. Nothing worth fighting for is as quick as baking a cake. If you serious keep trying until eternity…