The Patriotic Front’s protracted internal power struggle deepened after the Kabwe High Court blocked the Given Lubinda-led faction from holding its anticipated elective convention, further entrenching legal uncertainty within the former ruling party and raising fresh questions about its electoral future. In a ruling delivered on January 27, 2026, High Court Judge Kelvin Limbani granted an interlocutory injunction in favour of the Robert Chabinga-led faction, freezing the February 13 convention and restraining the Lubinda group from acting in the name of the party. The court found that the matter did not require a full trial before interim protection could be granted.
Judge Limbani held that the applicants had demonstrated a “clear right deserving of protection” and that the dispute raised serious issues requiring judicial determination. He warned that parallel operations by rival factions posed a real risk of irreparable harm, including unlawful occupation of party premises, unauthorised use of party symbols and the convening of a contested elective conference whose legitimacy would likely be challenged. “The balance of convenience tilts in favour of granting the injunction,” the judge ruled, restraining the Lubinda faction and its agents from convening meetings, occupying party offices or presenting themselves as the lawful leadership pending final determination.
Addressing arguments that similar matters were already before the Lusaka High Court, including a judicial review by Miles Sampa challenging the Registrar of Societies’ actions, Judge Limbani rejected claims of abuse of process. He held that the Lusaka matters involved different parties, causes of action and reliefs. “I find that the plaintiff did not fail in its duty to make a full, fair and accurate disclosure of all material facts,” the judge said, noting that any perceived overlap could be raised through appropriate applications.The action was brought by PF faction secretary general Morgan Ng’ona against Brenda Nyirenda in her capacity as acting secretary general of the Lubinda-led faction.
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Lusaka businessman Harry Findlay avoided imprisonment after paying a K240,000 fine following his conviction on two immigration-related offences: holding more than one Zambian passport and possessing a forged immigration endorsement. Chief Resident Magistrate Sylvia Munyinya found that the State had proved both charges beyond reasonable doubt. She imposed fines of K180,000 and K60,000 respectively, with default sentences of six and four months’ imprisonment, to run cumulatively.
The court established that Findlay was issued a second Zambian passport in November 2019 despite already holding a valid one issued in 2017. Immigration records revealed no lawful justification for the additional passport. Findlay’s explanation that his earlier passport was full was rejected, with the court noting that the visas in that document had expired by the time the second passport was issued.
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