Olipa M. Phiri v Mackson C. Kapantha and the Electoral Commission of Zambia

The petition concerns the Nyimba South Constituency parliamentary election held on 13 August 2026, in which Mackson C. Kapantha, the NRPUP candidate, was declared duly elected with 10,443 votes, while Olipa M. Phiri, the UPND candidate, received 3,711 votes. The petitioner challenges the validity of the election, alleging widespread electoral malpractices and misconduct, including alleged manipulation and swapping of ballots, bribery and vote buying, intimidation, campaigning on polling day, and hate speech and character assassination. The petitioner further alleges that some of her polling agents were intimidated or bribed, that agents were denied access to GEN 20 forms, and that some results were allegedly improperly recorded or altered to the benefit of the 1st Respondent. The petitioner alleges that these practices affected voters across the eight wards and 55 polling stations in Nyimba South Constituency and prevented some voters from freely exercising their right to choose their preferred candidate. She therefore seeks, among other reliefs, a declaration that the election of the 1st Respondent is null and void and invalid, as well as costs and any other relief the court may deem appropriate. Current Status: The matter is still ongoing before the court.