Zambia Election Row Heats Up: Witness Claims Violence Led to Impotence in Masebo-Kamanga Court Battle!

The Lusaka High Court is currently presiding over an election petition filed by former Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Sylvia Masebo, challenging the Chongwe East parliamentary election results. Masebo lost the seat to independent candidate Anita Kamanga, who secured 16,058 votes against Masebo's 6,798, as reported by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ). During the ongoing hearing before High Court Judge Evaristo Pengele, grave accusations have emerged, alleging that MP Anita Kamanga supplied pepper spray to a group of men and instructed them to attack members of Masebo’s campaign team. Masebo’s lead counsel, Robert Simeza, indicated that approximately 20 witnesses are expected to testify in this matter.

The court heard testimonies from four witnesses regarding an alleged attack that took place on July 23, 2026, during the campaign period. The incident reportedly occurred when Aaron Mwambi, 29, a bricklayer and farmer from Kapete Ward, along with other United Party for National Development (UPND) supporters, were travelling in a Hino truck to attend a funeral. Their vehicle was allegedly blocked by a black Toyota Harrier and a Toyota Prado, both linked to Ms. Kamanga’s campaign team.

Aaron Mwambi, who was the first witness, testified that Ms. Kamanga emerged from the Toyota Harrier carrying pepper spray. He alleged that she handed the pepper spray to a man identified as Oliver, instructing him to spray the group so they could be “easily beat them well.” Mwambi claimed Oliver then sprayed them, while another man, identified as Malambo, allegedly used a wooden handle to beat him on his back, leg, and hand. Mwambi recounted that the pepper spray caused temporary vision loss and that he was later taken to Chongwe District Hospital. He told the court, “I’m still feeling unwell. My back still hurts and I’m not even able to perform conjugal duties.” Under cross-examination, Mwambi denied that his group intended to disrupt Ms. Kamanga's campaign activities, though he admitted he could not recall whether the person whose funeral they were to attend was male or female.

Three other witnesses corroborated the allegations. Sunday Mwanza, 26, testified that he was severely beaten during the same encounter and continues to suffer health complications. Leonard Banda also affirmed that Ms. Kamanga handed pepper spray to the men and ordered the assault. Njekwa Milimo, the driver of the Hino truck, admitted during cross-examination that he did not directly see Ms. Kamanga with the pepper spray but observed the confrontation through his side mirrors. Despite the allegations, witnesses acknowledged during cross-examination that, according to the ECZ campaign schedule, Ms. Kamanga was indeed the candidate slated to campaign in that particular area on the day the incident occurred. They maintained, however, that they were attacked by members of her campaign team and denied that their encounter constituted a confrontation between rival groups.