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The United National Independence Party (UNIP) is embroiled in a leadership crisis, with a faction led by Bishop Trevor Mwamba suing the Attorney General over the Registrar of Societies’ recognition of a rival group.
The case, filed in the Lusaka High Court, challenged the Registrar’s decision to acknowledge Lieutenant Henry Muyoba’s faction as the legitimate party leaders.
Kenneth Kaira, acting UNIP Secretary-General, has applied for judicial review, seeking to overturn what he terms the unlawful alteration of the party’s leadership structure.
He argued that recognising Muyoba’s group contradicted earlier court rulings affirming Bishop Mwamba’s leadership.
Kaira had requested an order of certiorari to quash the Registrar’s decision and a declaration that the June 6, 2024, letter endorsing Muyoba’s faction was illegal.
He is also asking for an order of mandamus to compel the Registrar to uphold previous court rulings.
Kaira recounted that UNIP, under Mwamba’s leadership, held a national congress in April 2021, electing Mwamba as president.
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This leadership was later challenged by an unauthorized faction, which declared Muyoba president after a disputed congress in May 2021.
The High Court, and later the Court of Appeal, issued rulings that barred Muyoba’s group from interfering in party affairs.
Despite this, the acting Chief Registrar reversed an earlier decision in February 2022 that affirmed Mwamba’s leadership, now recognising Muyoba’s faction in a letter issued in June 2024.
Kaira’s affidavit described the Registrar’s actions as illegal, procedurally improper, and irrational, arguing that it has thrown the party into deeper chaos.
He called for the court’s urgent intervention to stay the Registrar’s decision and prevent further damage to UNIP’s standing.
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