KASENENGWA RECOUNT SHOWS UPND’S LEVISON ZIWA AHEAD OF PHILIMON TWASA

The political landscape in Eastern Province has shifted following the presentation of a court-sanctioned vote recount report before the Chipata High Court, which places UPND candidate Levison Ziwa ahead of Philimon Twasa in the closely watched Kasenengwa Constituency parliamentary race. According to the recount report submitted by the High Court Registrar, Mr. Ziwa garnered 14,693 votes, surpassing NRPUP candidate Philimon Twasa, who recorded 12,907 votes. This marks a dramatic reversal from the initial figures declared by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), which had previously credited Mr. Twasa with 14,582 votes against Mr. Ziwa's 13,339 votes. The judicial recount stems from a petition filed by Mr. Ziwa, who contested the initial declaration by pointing out glaring mathematical discrepancies between the official results and the Gen 20 forms issued to his polling agents at various polling stations. Presiding Judge Elita Phiri Mwikisa evaluated the documentary evidence presented by the petitioner and ruled that sufficient grounds existed to warrant a transparent, court-supervised verification exercise to uphold electoral integrity. The recount was subsequently conducted at the Kasenengwa Town Council under tight police security and strict judicial oversight. The significant variance of 1,786 votes in favor of the UPND candidate has reignited intense debates surrounding polling collation accuracy and administrative procedures at local polling centers. Legal counsels for both camps have closely monitored the proceedings, as the final judgment of the court will determine whether the parliamentary seat will officially change hands. Electoral watchdogs have noted that such petitions underscore the critical importance of meticulous result recording and the vital checks provided by the judiciary in resolving electoral disputes. As the Chipata High Court prepares to make its final determination based on the recount report, tension remains palpable among supporter