MAANO REJECTS ZAMBEZI CENTRAL RESULTS, CITES VIOLENCE AND IRREGULARITIES
16.08.2026
UPND losing parliamentary candidate for Zambezi Central, Dennis Kayombo Maano, has rejected the results of the 2026 General Election and announced plans to challenge the outcome in court.
Mr Maano said he rejected the results after he was declared to have polled 7,816 votes against independent candidate Rafael Chimambo, who was declared the winner with 8,336 votes.
Addressing supporters and party officials, Mr Maano alleged that the election in Zambezi Central was neither free nor fair, citing violence, intimidation and alleged irregularities at several polling stations.
He alleged that violence and intimidation affected voters in parts of the constituency, including incidents at Kamila polling station, where he claimed agents supporting Mr Chimambo harassed the presiding officer, Gladys Kavungo, and allegedly assisted voters during the voting process.
Mr Maano further alleged that two of his agents, Hinge Luigi and Brenda Luilla, were removed from a polling station before the counting of votes and were subsequently prevented from signing the results on Form 20.
He said the alleged incident occurred shortly before the close of polling.
Mr Maano also cited alleged violence at polling stations in Chitoloki, where he claimed stones were thrown at a polling station, intimidating election officials.
He further alleged that a campaign manager for the independent candidate was campaigning at Carter polling station while voting was underway
According to Mr Maano, some voters were also allegedly threatened with having their houses burnt or demolished if they supported the UPND candidate.
He additionally alleged that instructions were issued to traditional leaders and village headmen that anyone who voted for the UPND candidate would be chased from their chiefdom.
Mr Maano said he and his lawyers would begin the process of challenging the results, with a meeting scheduled with his legal team at 16:00 hours to prepare the petition.
He said the petition would seek legal redress and urged his supporters to remain hopeful as the matter was taken to court.
“Nothing is lost until we seek justice in the courts of law,” Mr Maano said.
He thanked voters in Zambezi Central for supporting him and the UPND, saying he remained committed to pursuing what he described as justice through the appropriate legal channels.
Tapelo Joe Simataa
Camnet