The political future of Mangochi East Constituency has been thrown into uncertainty after the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the election of Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) legislator Francesca Theula Masamba.
, ruling that irregularities affected the September 16, 2025 parliamentary vite, citing irregularities in the electoral process during the September 16, 2025 parliamentary elections.
A panel of nine judges, led by Chief Justice Rizine Mzikamanda, ruled that irregularities affected the September 16, 2025 parliamentary vote. The judges delivered the ruling after hearing submissions from lawyers representing appellants Jackson Allie Daud Mataka and Abubakar Mbaya.
The appeal challenged a February 6, 2026 High Court decision which had upheld Masamba’s victory.
Lawyers Patrick Mpaka and Cassius Chidothe, appearing for the appellants, argued that several electoral irregularities compromised the credibility of the election results. Among the issues raised were the unlawful combination of two polling centres and the failure by electoral officials to adequately address and resolve complaints raised during the electoral process.
The Supreme Court found that the irregularities were significant enough to affect the outcome of the election and consequently nullified the results for Mangochi East Constituency.
