Q FM Africa's Modern Radio
The Ndola and Lusaka High Courts have nullified the elections of Kabushi and Kwacha Members of Parliament Bowman Lusambo and Joseph Malanji respectively.
Lusaka High Court Judge Edward Musona sitting I Ndola has nullified the election of Mr Lusambo on grounds of electoral malpractices and violence.
In this matter, United Party for National Development (UPND) losing candidate Bernard Kanengo petitioned Mr.Lusambo election citing malpractice and violence before and during the August 12 General election.
In his judgment, Judge Musona noted that there was widespread violence in Kabushi and that Mr Lusambo did not disassociate himself from his militia group known as the Nato Forces, which was attacking the electorates.
Judge Musona said petitioner adduced enough evidence that there was violence in which Mr. Lusambo’s infamous Nato forces militia group is alleged to have caused a lot of brutality among the people of Kabushi constituency.
The Judge further noted that a lot of people were intimidated because of these violent acts and the petitioner himself was not given chance to freely campaign because each time his campaign team was given the time to campaign, he was stopped by the Nato forces lead by Mr. Lusambo.
Both Mr. Lusambo and Mr Malanji have since indicated that he will appeal against the ruling.
And the Lusaka High Court has dismissed the election petition by losing UPND Matero constituency parliamentary candidate Tom Michelo.
Mr Michelo had petitioned the election of PF Matero Member of Parliament Miles Sampa alleging that he had engaged in electoral malpractices thereby rendering the election not free and fair.
Rendering judgment in the matter, High Court Judge Derrick Mulenga dismissed the petition on the basis that the petitioner failed to prove the allegations leveled against respondent.
Judge Mulenga says the petitioner failed to meet the threshold required for an election to be nullified.
And speaking to journalists shortly after the judgment was delivered, Mr Sampa described the whole process as emotional especially because he was accused of beating up voters when he was the victim.
Meanwhile visibly annoyed UPND members accused the opposition PF of having placed cadres in most government offices, hence the unfair outcome of the petition.