Lusaka's New Mayor Chitambala Mwewa: Sworn In, Tackles Traditional Healers, Ignites Rivalry

Lusaka today witnessed a solemn and historic moment with the official installation of Mayor Mwewa Chitambala at the Lusaka Civic Centre, an event scheduled for 14:00 hours. This formal commencement of his term follows an earlier ceremony planned for September 24 that was postponed due to a legal challenge to his election. NRPUP candidate Gabriel Kibombwe had petitioned Mwewa's election, having polled 195,041 votes against Mwewa's 200,029 in the August 13 mayoral election. However, the Local Government Elections Tribunal subsequently granted an application by consent to withdraw the petition, affirming Mwewa as the duly elected Mayor of Lusaka.

Lusaka Town Clerk, Oliver Muuka, described the swearing-in as a legal requirement under the Local Government Act Number 2 of 2019, read together with Article 260 of the Constitution. Mr. Muuka emphasized that public office is both a privilege and a profound responsibility, urging Mayor Mwewa to dedicate himself to serving the Zambian people and ensuring effective service delivery for the city of Lusaka.

Even before his formal installation, Mayor Mwewa had become the public face of an intensified Lusaka City Council campaign aimed at addressing street vending, illegal trading spaces, sanitation, and general disorder in the capital. This rapid enforcement drive, dubbed “Operation Clear Path,” saw the Council and Zambia Police collaborating to remove vendors from major roads within the Central Business District, including Cairo Road, Freedom Way, Lumumba Road, Chachacha Road, and Ben Bella Road. Makeshift stalls and booths in undesignated trading areas were also dismantled.

Mayor Mwewa has stated that more than 14,000 trading spaces are available across 28 markets to accommodate over 8,000 street vendors affected by the operation. He insists that the exercise aims to relocate traders to designated areas rather than deprive them of their livelihoods. Furthermore, the Mayor-elect announced 24-hour patrols to prevent vendors from returning to cleared streets, while volunteers and council workers continue efforts to clean roads, collect garbage, and unblock drainage systems throughout parts of the city. These proactive measures have generated considerable public discussion, often referred to as the “Mwewa Effect,” as council directives and clean-up activities began reshaping parts of Lusaka even prior to his official assumption of office.

However, these actions have also drawn varied reactions. Traditional healers, represented by Edward Mwanamunyati from Kanyama Compound, expressed significant concern over the removal of posters advertising their services across the city. Mr. Mwanamunyati highlighted the adverse impact on their businesses, as these posters were crucial for attracting customers for services including sexual health, HIV, and relationship problem remedies. He appealed to the Lusaka City Council for engagement to establish designated advertising areas, emphasizing the financial losses incurred by printing and transporting posters and paying for their placement.

Adding to the complexity, former Lusaka Mayor Ms. Chitangala publicly denied congratulating Mr. Mwewa Chitambala or issuing any statement wishing him success following his election. Reacting to a circulating social media post, Ms. Chitangala firmly stated that the remarks attributed to her were false and did not reflect her position. She accused “Zambian Watch” of misleading the public and urged citizens to disregard the unauthorized post. Her response comes amid growing public criticism regarding her own five-year tenure, specifically concerning the unresolved issue of street vendors during her time in office.

Therefore, Mayor Mwewa Chitambala's installation today on October 7, 2026, marks the formal beginning of a mayoral term whose initial policy direction is already distinctly visible: a determined push to restore cleanliness, enforce designated trading spaces, and bring greater order to Zambia’s capital city.