The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) has adopted, Timothy Katenga, as its candidate for the Chawama parliamentary by-election scheduled for January.
The adoption follows the declaration of the Chawama seat as vacant by Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti, after the prolonged absence of area Member of Parliament Tasila Lungu.
Addressing a media briefing on Monday at the Anderson Kambela Mazoka Secretariat in Lusaka, UPND Chairperson for Elections, Garry Nkombo, said the party was confident of victory in the forthcoming poll.
“The party’s recent successes in by-elections and expressed optimism ahead of the 2026 general election,” Nkombo said.
Katenga pledged to mobilise grassroots support for President Hakainde Hichilema, the UPND and its parliamentary candidates, with a target of securing 100,000 votes. He also called for unity and collective effort to ensure victory in the 2026 general elections.
Read More: Court rejects bid to halt Speaker Mutti over sack of Tasila Lungu from Chawama seat
Speaker Mutti declared the Chawama seat vacant following a vote by Members of Parliament, citing Article 72(2)(c) of the Constitution of Zambia. The decision followed a National Assembly resolution invoking Article 72(8), which allows the Speaker to notify the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) of a vacancy.
In her ruling, Mutti said she would formally inform the ECZ of the vacancy in the Chawama parliamentary seat.
The vacancy arose from Tasila Lungu’s prolonged and indefinite absence from Parliament amid delays in the burial of her father, former President Edgar Lungu, which left Chawama Constituency without representation.
The Speaker said Tasila had been granted a compassionate window to mourn and return within 14 days after Parliament resumed in September, but the period elapsed without her return.
“While I accept that the Committee on Privileges and Absences conducted a thorough examination of the matter, I do not agree with its recommendation to allow Ms Lungu to attend sittings of the House virtually,” Mutti said.
She argued that Tasila had not represented the people of Chawama since June 2025 and that there was no clear indication of when the legal processes surrounding the burial of her late father would be concluded.
Meanwhile, Lusaka-based lawyer Tresford Chali petitioned the Constitutional Court under a certificate of urgency, arguing that the Speaker’s decision would silence the people of Chawama during a critical constitutional amendment process.
“This vote may take place on or before Friday. If it is taken before the stay is granted, the people of Chawama will be deprived of being heard on the proposed constitutional amendments through Hon. Tasila Lungu,” Chali submitted.
However, Constitutional Court Judge Martin Musaluke dismissed the application to halt the Speaker’s decision, ruling that it lacked merit and was based on speculation.
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