Five Losing Candidates Petition August 13 Election Results, Citing Bribery, Violence and Vote Buying

LUSAKA. Five candidates who lost their parliamentary races in the August 13 general election have gone to court to challenge the results, citing bribery, violence and vote buying, according to a report by the Times of Zambia. | Constituency | Petitioner | Respondent (winner) | Main allegations | Relief sought | |---|---|---|---|---| | Zambezi Central | Dennis Mano (UPND) | Raphael Ngimbu (independent) | Bribery, undue influence, threats, intimidation, violence, vote buying at polling stations | Recount and declaration that petitioner was duly elected | | Nkana | Francis Mukuka (UPND) | Alexander Chiteme (NRPUP) | Electoral malpractice, intimidation and harassment of observers/agents at all 86 polling stations, irregular ballot transport | Election declared void, ECZ ordered to call fresh nominations within 90 days | | Siavonga | Brave Mweetwa | Darius Mulunda | Misrepresenting ties to NRPUP and Brian Mundubile, vote buying with food at polling premises, violence | Election declared void | | Kalabo South | Mota Kalobo (independent) | Mivutu Chiinga (UPND) | Threatening to remove Social Cash Transfer beneficiaries who did not vote for him | Not specified in report | | Bangweulu | Anthony Kasandwe (UPND) | Happy Mampa (UPND) | Vote buying, bribery | Election nullified, ECZ ordered to call fresh nominations within 90 days | In Zambezi Central, UPND candidate Dennis Mano has petitioned the Lusaka High Court to nullify the election of independent candidate Raphael Ngimbu and have himself declared duly elected. Mano polled 7,816 votes against Ngimbu's 8,336. He alleged that Ngimbu's campaign involved bribery, undue influence, threats and intimidation, and that Ngimbu campaigned at polling stations on voting day, giving voters money and making promises to influence their votes. Mano is seeking a recount and a declaration that Ngimbu was not duly elected because voters were prevented from freely choosing a candidate of their choice. Zedgossip and the Zambian Observer sepa