THE Forum for Democracy and Development(FDD) has scooped the Chawama parliamentary by election after it’s candidate Bright Nundwe beat his eight contenders with 8,085 votes.
The former Copperbelt Province permanent secretary’s closet rival Morgan Muunda of the governing United Party for National Development(UPND) closely trailed with 6,542 votes.
The generally peaceful by election was a horse race between Mr Nundwe, was backed by the Given Lubinda Led PF Faction and some Tonse Alliance members, and Mr Muunda.
By midnight, both the FDD/Tonse Alliance supporters and those from UPND were already celebrating possible victories of their candidates.
But Mr Nundwe, whose campaign strategies included washing clothes and cooking for residents, scooped the seat which was help by Patriotic Front(PF)’s Tasila Lungu, who is still mourning her late father-former President Edgar Lungu in South Africa.
Chawama Constituency returning officer Lewis Lupando announced Mr Nundwe as duly elected lawmaker in the early hours of today in an election which saw 18,096, cast.
“I therefore declare that the said Nundwe Bright, to be this day, duly elected as Member of Parliament for Chawama Constituency,” Mr Lupando said as Mr Nundwe was lifted shoulder high by his jubilant supporters, among them Patriotic Front factionf acting president president Given Lubinda and PF Matero lawmaker Miles Sampa.
Other notable results saw the opposition Citizens’ First candidate Davison Mulenga getting 1,534, followed by independent candidate George Mwenya with 466 ballots while independent candidate Elijah Siatwaambo, a lawyer, polled 428.
Alfred Ndiweni of the
Exodus Party for Peace and Prosper getting 239 votes followed by
Muhammad Mutete, of the National Congress Party with 319.
Leadership Movement’s
Musukuma Ntazana had 100 while National Democratic Congress’ James Phiri had 93.
The Chawama seat was declared vacant she to Ms Lungu’s prolonged absence as she is in South Africa awaiting burial of her father, late President Lungu who died on June 5, 2025.
Mr Lungu will only be buried at the conclusion of a lawsuit regarding how and where he should be buried.
The Lungu family does not want President Hakainde Hichilema to preside over his funeral but the Government wants the late former President to be given a dignified funeral back home.
(Mwebantu, Friday, 16th January, 2026)
