Chawama goes to the poll today

Chawama Constituency, which has been without parliamentary representation for several months, goes to the polls today to elect a new Member of Parliament.

The by-election follows Parliament’s decision to declare the seat vacant after former area MP Tasila Lungu failed to return to Zambia following the death of her father, former president Edgar Lungu, who died in South Africa on June 5, 2025.

Chawama residents have had no representation since June, as Tasila remained outside the country and did not attend parliamentary sittings or carry out constituency duties.

In July, Zambezi East Member of Parliament Brian Kambita raised the matter in the House, questioning whether Tasila still qualified to hold office after reports indicated that her family had informed a South African court that they did not intend to return to Zambia due to security concerns.

Speaker of the National Assembly Nelly Mutti granted Tasila a compassionate period to mourn and directed her to return within 14 days after Parliament resumed sittings in September. The period elapsed without her return.

Parliament later wrote to her again. She responded by requesting additional time until the conclusion of a court case relating to her father’s burial or, alternatively, permission to attend sittings virtually.

The Speaker referred the request to the Committee on Privileges and Absences. Tasila was invited to appear before the committee on November 18 but did not attend.

The committee later recommended that she be allowed to attend sittings virtually until the burial matter was resolved. However, Speaker Mutti rejected the recommendation, stating that virtual participation did not constitute effective representation.

In her ruling, the Speaker cited the Constitution, noting that Tasila’s prolonged and unauthorised absence breached parliamentary rules and amounted to misconduct.

When the matter was presented to the House, Members of Parliament voted in favour of vacating the seat. As a result, Tasila Lungu ceased to be Member of Parliament for Chawama.

The Electoral Commission of Zambia subsequently set January 15, 2026, as polling day.

Nine candidates are contesting the by-election. They include Independent candidates George Mwenya and Elijah Siatwambo; James Phiri of the National Democratic Congress (NDC); Alfred Mageza Ndiweni of the Exodus Party for Peace and Prosperity (EPPP); Bright Nundwe of the Forum for Democracy and Development (FDD) under the Tonse Alliance; Mulenga Davison Kabamba of the Citizens First (CF); Ntazana Musukuma of the Leadership Movement; Mohammed Mutete of the New Congress Party (NCP); and United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate Morgan Muunda.

Several political parties, including the Socialist Party, the Resolute Party and the Movement for Change and Equity Party, as well as one independent aspirant, did not file nominations despite initially expressing interest.

Polling stations open today as Chawama voters elect a new representative.