Now, Kopulande sues over party presidency

By GRACE CHAILE

SEBASTIAN Kopulande, suing in his capacity as president of the People’s Party, has filed a lawsuit claiming that the purported election of Mwape Mandona as party president was illegal, null and void.
In the action filed before the Lusaka High Court, Mr Kopulande challenged the legitimacy of a national conference allegedly convened by suspended party officials, which resulted in Mr Mandona’s election.
Mr Kopulande sued together with Mr James Tembo, who was suing in his capacity as secretary general of the People’s Party. The defendants named in the matter were Agnes Kawandami as first defendant, Carlson Chingwengwezi as second defendant and Mr Mwapeas the third defendant.
According to the statement of claim, Mr Kopulande was duly elected president of the People’s Party, a political society registered under the Societies Act and governed by its constitution, while Mr Tembo was duly appointed as secretary general. The first defendant had served as vice secretary general and the second defendant as treasurer.
The plaintiffs stated that on January 29, 2026, Mr Kopulande received a telephone call from the second defendant notifying him of a national conference scheduled for January 31, 2026. They contended that the party resolved on the same day to expel the first and second defendants from membership.
Despite allegedly receiving notice of their expulsion, the defendants proceeded to convene what the plaintiffs described as an illegal national conference on January 30, 2026, at which Mr Mandona was purportedly elected party president.
The plaintiffs argued that the constitutional requirements for convening a national conference were not met.
They stated that no conference preparatory committee was appointed by the national executive committee and that the conference was held barely a year after the previous one, contrary to provisions requiring it to be held once every five years.
That the third defendant (Mandona) does but qualify to run for the office of president of the party as he is not a paid up member rendering any purported election as such illegal and null and void,” he contended.
The plaintiffs are seeking declarations that the January 30 conference and Mr Mandona’selection were illegal and null and void.
They also sought injunctions restraining the defendants from holding out Mr Mandona as party president, presenting themselves as party leaders or members, using party materials including letterheads, and convening meetings in the name of the People’s Party.