Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
People’s party President Mike Mulongoti has backed the decision by the United Party for National Development (UPND) to seek the High Court’s determination whether the Constitutional Court did violate their right to have a fair hearing within a reasonable time when it dismissed the presidential election petition.
Mike Mulongoti
Mr. Mulongoti who is also a constitutional lawyer notes that a lot of time was spent on technicalities without the court explaining to the petitioners the implications of spending too much time on preliminary issues.
He says the whole essence of the petition is looking at the evidence, but that the petition process did not reach that stage before it was dismissed thereby defeating the whole purpose of the petition.
Mr. Mulongoti says by going to the High Court, the UPND is merely trying to ask the court to determine whether their rights were infringed upon and for those rights to be enforced.
He adds that the High Court will also determine whether the Constitutional Court performed its function in dispensing justice.
Mr. Mulongoti explains that the High Court has got unlimited jurisdiction over civil and criminal matters
He states that people should therefore allow the UPND to exercise their rights by seeking redress following the ruling of the Constitutional court.