🇿🇲 BRIEFING | Presidential Aspirant Charles Chanda Disqualified from 2026 Race
A dramatic scene unfolded during presidential nominations after Charles Chanda of the United Prosperous and Peaceful Zambia Party was disqualified from contesting in the August 13, 2026 general election, triggering angry reactions and fresh controversy around the nomination process.
Delivering the determination, Returning Officer Mwangala Zaloumis announced that Chanda’s nomination had been rejected on two grounds. First, the commission said the aspiring candidate was found to be an “undischarged bankrupt” based on court documents linked to matter 2022/HD/092.
Secondly, the ECZ ruled that the adoption certificate submitted by his party did not comply with provisions of the Electoral Process Act No. 12 of 2016.
Zaloumis explained that the law requires an adoption certificate to be signed by both the party president and secretary general in line with the Electoral Process Act and the Societies Act. However, according to the ruling, the submitted document allegedly did not contain the name of the Secretary General, rendering it defective.
The decision immediately sparked tension at the nomination centre, with Chanda reacting emotionally and accusing unnamed political forces of attempting to pressure him into joining the ruling establishment.
He claimed the disqualification was politically motivated, although no evidence was immediately provided to support the allegation.
The development adds another layer of drama to what is already shaping into one of Zambia’s most crowded and contested presidential races in recent history.
With more than 25 presidential aspirants initially showing interest, scrutiny around legal compliance, eligibility, and documentation has intensified as the Electoral Commission moves to narrow the field ahead of the official campaign period.
The bankruptcy issue is particularly
significant because Zambia’s constitutional and electoral framework places strict eligibility requirements on presidential candidates. Questions surrounding financial standing, criminal liability, and procedural compliance have historically played decisive roles in nomination disputes.
For now, the ECZ’s position appears rooted in technical and legal compliance rather than political considerations. However, in Zambia’s highly charged political environment, such decisions rarely remain administrative for long.
Opposition figures and supporters often interpret disqualifications through a political lens, especially during election season.
Whether Chanda seeks legal redress or attempts to challenge the decision politically remains unclear. But the incident underscores a broader reality of Zambia’s 2026 elections: beyond rallies and slogans, the battlefield is increasingly becoming procedural, legal, and institutional.
© The People’s Brief | Ollus R. Ndomu