Lusaka’s Mayor has taken his oath of office before the Chief Resident Magistrate, a legal step the Town Clerk says must come before he can carry out the duties of the office. His installation follows this afternoon.
Key takeaways
- Lusaka Mayor Chitambala Mwewa was sworn in on the morning of Wednesday, 7 October 2026, before Chief Resident Magistrate Nthandose S. Chabala. His installation is scheduled for the same afternoon.
- Town Clerk Oliver Muuka said the oath is a legal requirement under the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019, read with Article 260 of the Constitution.
- Mr Mwewa won the August 2026 mayoral election with 200,029 votes, 4,988 ahead of his closest rival, Gabriel Kibombwe, who polled 195,041.
- A petition against the result was withdrawn by consent at the Local Government Elections Tribunal on 24 September 2026, confirming him as duly elected.
- He takes charge of a council responsible for the markets, trading rules and local revenue that shape the capital’s informal and small-business economy.
Lusaka Mayor His Worship Mr Chitambala Mwewa was sworn in this morning, clearing the legal step that must come before he takes up the duties of the office. He took the oath before the Chief Resident Magistrate, Hon. Nthandose S. Chabala, with his installation as Mayor scheduled for this afternoon.
Why the oath is a legal requirement
Lusaka Town Clerk Mr Oliver Muuka said the ceremony was not merely symbolic. He described it as a requirement under the Local Government Act No. 2 of 2019, read with Article 260 of the Constitution of Zambia (Amendment) Act No. 2 of 2016.
Under that law, Mr Muuka said, “a person assuming a public office shall take an oath of office and such other oath, as prescribed before carrying out the duties of the office.”
He described the oath as a pledge to promote effective service delivery, safeguard confidentiality and act in the best interests of the community. It is also, he said, a reminder that leadership is a trust, and that the confidence placed in an elected official must be honoured through discipline, transparency and accountability.
Addressing the Mayor directly, Mr Muuka said serving the people of Lusaka requires unity, transparency and dedication, and urged all stakeholders to build a city that reflects the aspirations of its residents.
How Mr Mwewa won the mayoral seat
Mr Mwewa, the United Party for National Development (UPND) candidate, was declared Mayor of Lusaka District by the Electoral Commission of Zambia after the August 2026 general election. The contest was close.
| Candidate | Party | Votes | Share |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chitambala Mwewa | UPND | 200,029 | 45.2% |
| Gabriel Kibombwe | NRPUP | 195,041 | 44.1% |
| Simon Mwila | Independent | 32,430 | 7.3% |
| Namuchiya Banda | Independent | 7,444 | 1.7% |
| Crispin Kabole | Independent | 4,613 | 1.0% |
| David Nyirenda | Citizens First | 3,017 | 0.7% |
Mr Kibombwe challenged the result before the Local Government Elections Tribunal. On 24 September 2026, the parties agreed to withdraw the petition by consent, and the tribunal confirmed that Mr Mwewa remained the duly elected Mayor of Lusaka.
What the Mayor takes charge of
Lusaka City Council runs much of the everyday economy of the capital. It sets and enforces trading rules, manages markets and bus stations, issues business permits and collects levies and property rates. Those decisions land directly on traders, small businesses and property owners.
Some of those questions are already live. The council and police began Operation Clear Path on 3 October to remove street vendors from the central business district, a policy that affects thousands of informal traders’ incomes. Waste management is another pressure point, which is why the National Prosecution Authority and the Lusaka Integrated Solid Waste Management Company signed an agreement to fight illegal dumping.
What to watch
- The installation: the Mayor’s first remarks after this afternoon’s installation, and the priorities he sets for his term.
- Street vending: how the council balances enforcement in the central business district with alternative trading space for vendors.
- Revenue and services: whether collections from levies and rates translate into visible improvements in markets, drainage, roads and waste collection.
- Accountability: how the council reports on spending, given the Town Clerk’s emphasis on transparency in the oath.
The oath is complete and the legal formalities are nearly done. From this afternoon, Mr Mwewa is responsible for delivering on the promises it contains.
More from our Leadership & Governance coverage. Related: Shira Katunya Shillah Becomes Mazabuka Central Ward Councillor.
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