15/04/2026
John Sangwa quits politics to 'spend time more time with family'
OUTSPOKEN lawyer John Sangwa has given up on vying for presidency saying he wants to "spend more time with his family."
In a statement as long as the Great North Road, Sangwa said another one of the many reasons he was calling it quits was his inability to raise enough campaign funds.
Sangwa who tossed aside his law practice last October to lead the formation of the Movement for National Renewal had hoped that citizens would contribute funds for his nomination fee and other campaign related programmes.
But as it turned out to be, Zambians did not fully buy into his idea, prompting the lawyer to go back to representing individuals in court.
"During engagement with supporters, it became evident that many individuals were reluctant to contribute through formal channels due to concerns about the visibility and traceability of such contributions. This, in turn, significantly limited the Movement’s ability to mobilise financial resources at the required scale," he shared.
Sangwa also claimed that the Registrar of Societies had denied him the chance to register his movement as a political party, staying that the authority had imposed conditions not prescribed by the Societies Act.
"And which, notwithstanding any prior administrative practice, are inconsistent with the Constitution," he claimed.
"In particular, the Registrar has required, as preconditions for registration, police clearance and fingerprint certification of office bearers; clearance from the Inspector-General of the Zambia Police Service for the Movement to be registered as a political party, which the Movement sought by letter dated 25 March 2026 and which has not been granted; and approval of the party symbol by the Electoral Commission of Zambia."
He said another reason for his withdrawal was that the movement had been prevented by the police from conducting its nationwide town hall consultation programme with its more than one million supporters.
"The programme, which was scheduled to run from 24 March to 30 April 2026 across all ten provinces, was intended to engage citizens on governance, constitutionalism, and national development priorities, and to collect input for a People’s Manifesto."
"It was also intended to establish party structures in line with Article 60 of the Constitution and in readiness for the general election, to serve as the primary mechanism for developing nationwide organisational structures rooted in citizen participation," he said.
He, however, stated that he had been approached by political parties to have him as a presidential candidate or running mate, the requests he said he has since declined.
"I will, however, return to legal practice and devote my time to writing on law, governance, and citizenship, and to spending more time with my family," he stated.
By Catherine P**e
Kalemba, April 15, 2026
