Supreme Court Judge Munyinda Wankie has declared UPND’s Carlos Antonio as dully elected MP for Kaoma Central seat.
This was after Judge Wankie upheld the election victory of Mr. Antonio whose seat was petitioned by PF losing candidate in the 2011 general elections Enock Maseka.
In dismissing the petition, Judge Wankie said Mr. Maseka and his witness had failed to prove allegations of character assassination which they claimed helped Mr. Antonio to win the election.
Judge Wankie ruled that the three grounds of petition were mainly based on allegations that Mr. Antonio had during campaigns said that Mr. Maseka was a serial killer.
The Judge observed that allegations that one was a serial killer were serious especially if that person was vying for public office but noted the need for Mr. Maseka to have provided evidence in court that Mr. Antonio was the one peddling reports that he was a serial killer.
Judge Wankie ruled that based on the evidence provided to the lower court, he supports the decision of the High Court to dismiss the election petition and declare Mr. Antonio dully elected Kaoma Central MP.
And in interviews with Journalists shortly after the judgement was delivered, Mr. Antonio thanked the judiciary for exhibiting its independence.
He also thanked God and his supporters in Kaoma adding that he would now concentrate on delivering development to Kaoma Central now that the petition has been done away with.
“I knew that he petition would be dismissed because the grounds of petition were flimsy. Maseka had no basis for petitioning that election but merely wanted to frustrate the people of Kaoma,” Mr. Antonio said.
“I have some advice for the PF, next time you want a candidate in Kaoma, please don’t pick Maseka. He is a weak candidate who has lost three elections in Kaoma. He is time waster.”
Wonderful ! I`m happy for them.A sign that the justice system is not as biased as some people want it to appear.Congrats UPND !!
OH thank God Another silly bye election is avoided!!!
This is an insult to the PF.
I only hope when he says “will now concentrating on delivering development” he doesn’t mean he will concentrate on delivering by first defecting to the PF to blow up billions especially that his name sounds foreign and therefore may be victimised.
this is a very good move ..welelelelelelelelelelelelelee..viva opposition..Judge Wankie..well done..
THESE GUYS MUST SURELY REJOICE. BECAUSE THE PF IS UNSTOPABLE. THEY WERE GOING TO GRAB THIS SEAT. MULETOLA NO BWA PONA. LUCK YOU.
Carlos Antonio his name doesn’t sound like a Zambian name, I feel this guy is from Angola. Can the relevant authorities at ministry of foreign affairs check Carlos Antonio citizenry, we may have a foreigner representing us in parliament. He is definitely from Angola.
Does the name Guy Scott sound like a Zambian name? Or does the name Evans (Livingstone MP) sound Zambian? Does the name Sylvia Murambiwa sound Zambia? Or to you they sound Zambian because they are PF members? Stop being xenophobic whenever people with unZambian sounding names do not support PF.
That’s democracy at work.Bravo to upnd! However, you must stop crying when judgement is not in your favour. Already those five cadres facing court cases have accused the court of not handling the case well. Grow up men!
Politicians should respect courts even when……………