Simon Mwewa Lane Elected Mayor of Lusaka

Chitambala Mwewa Wins Lusaka Mayoral Race by 4,988 Votes

Vlogger and businessman Simon Mwewa Lane, popularly known as Chitambala Mwewa, has been elected Mayor of Lusaka after securing 200,029 votes in the August 13, 2026 General Elections.

Lusaka Returning Officer Oliver Muka declared Mwewa duly elected on Wednesday, August 19, following the conclusion of the mayoral election process.

UPND Candidate Secures Victory

Mwewa contested the mayoral election on the United Party for National Development (UPND) ticket and narrowly defeated NRPUP candidate Gabriel Kibombwe, who received 195,041 votes.

The final difference between the two leading candidates was 4,988 votes, making the Lusaka mayoral race one of the closely contested local government elections.

Independent candidate Simon Mwila finished third with 32,043 votes, while Namuchiya Banda received 7,444 votes.

Independent candidate Crispin Kabole polled 4,615 votes, while Citizens First candidate David Nyirenda received 3,017 votes.

450,600 Votes Cast

A total of 450,600 votes were recorded in the Lusaka mayoral election, with 8,026 ballots rejected.

The results place Mwewa at the centre of Lusaka’s local leadership at a time when the capital continues to face challenges relating to sanitation, waste management, infrastructure, traffic and the delivery of municipal services.

His victory gives him the responsibility of leading the Lusaka City Council and working with councillors and other stakeholders to address issues affecting residents.

Cleanliness Tops Mayor-Elect’s Priorities

In his acceptance remarks, Mwewa identified cleanliness as his immediate priority for Lusaka.

He said the city has considerable work to do and suggested that improving cleanliness would be an important starting point for his administration.

“I only have one thing to say, the number one issue in the city is cleanliness. There is a lot of work to do, I think we can start from there,” he said.

Focus Turns to Lusaka’s Development

The emphasis on cleanliness comes as Lusaka continues to deal with concerns over waste collection, littering, drainage and the general appearance of the city.

As the newly elected mayor, Mwewa will be expected to translate his campaign commitments into practical programmes that can improve services for residents across the capital.

His background as a vlogger and businessman has also attracted attention, making his election a notable development in Lusaka’s political and civic landscape.

A Narrowly Decided Election

The relatively small margin between Mwewa and Kibombwe demonstrates how competitive the Lusaka mayoral contest was.

With less than 5,000 votes separating the two leading candidates, the result reflects a closely divided electorate and gives the incoming administration a strong mandate to address issues that affect residents regardless of their political affiliation.

Mwewa’s immediate challenge will now be turning his focus on cleanliness into visible action while working within the responsibilities and resources of the local authority.

As he begins his tenure, Lusaka residents will be watching closely to see how the new mayor approaches waste management, sanitation and other pressing challenges facing Zambia’s capital.