The fight over the “Linda Mwananchi” name has entered a new phase after the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal temporarily stopped the registration of the name for any other party or entity pending the outcome of an appeal.
The Tribunal adopted a consent entered into by the parties, allowing both the Liberty National Democratic Alliance (LINDA) and the Mwananchi Party to maintain the reservation and registration of their respective names as the legal dispute continues.
As part of the agreement, the Registrar of Political Parties has been barred from entertaining any application seeking to reserve or register “Linda Mwananchi”, or a name bearing a similar variation, in favour of another person or entity.
The order effectively places the disputed name under protection until the appeal is determined.
However, the restriction specifically excludes LINDA and the Mwananchi Party, meaning the two parties covered by the consent are not prevented from proceeding with their respective registration arrangements.
The agreement was presented before the Tribunal and subsequently adopted as an order, giving it effect as the parties await the hearing of the appeal.
The Registrar is therefore prohibited, for the time being, from processing a fresh application by a different individual or organisation seeking to secure the contested name.
The dispute will return before the Tribunal on September 14, 2026, at 2:30pm, when the appeal is scheduled for hearing.
The latest order means that no third party can secure the “Linda Mwananchi” name or a similar variation while the appeal remains pending, preserving the existing position until the Tribunal considers the matter further.
