A By-election is looming following the Supreme Court’s decision to nullify the Mulobezi Parliamentary seat which was held by United Party for National Development (UPND) Member of Parliament Hastings Sililo in Western Province on grounds that his election was characterized with corrupt activities.
Supreme Court Judge Elizabeth Muyovwe in handing down the judgment yesterday nullified the election of Mr Sililo on grounds that his victory was marred with bribery and other forms of electoral malpractices.
Justice Muyovwe said the trial judge misdirected herself when she did not prove that there was a wide spread tendency of giving out gifts and donations in the constituency, before, during and after elections.
She said the lower court erred in Law and facts when it found donations of blanket and mattress took place in Mulobezi prior to the election date.
“The grounds of appeal on the donations of mattresses and blankets in some wards of the constituency succeeds in accordance with section 79 (1), (c) and (d) of the Electoral Act and the seat is accordingly nullified,” judge Muyovwe said.
Mr Sililo’s election was petitioned by losing Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Albertina Pota Mwanamwalye in the High Court where Judge Anesi Bobo-Banda threw out the petition with costs.Ms Mwanamwalye then decided to appeal against the High Court decision that threw out her petition with costs.
Judge Muyovwe also dismissed the allegations against Mr Sililo in which the petitioner had contended that he was distributing monies as bribes to electorates and in turn asked them to vote for him because the said allegations were not proved.
Ms Mwanamwalye in her appeal submissions raised allegations ranging from threats, bribery, distribution of campaign materials and public resources, to vote buying had not been proved.
And Mr Sililo has described as disappointing the courts’ ruling but said that he would respect the Supreme Court’s decision.
And with these unplanned expenditures the PF Govt still hopes and expects the Budget to perform well and achieve targets? I am sure this Financial year’s Budget will have record high deficit never seen in history of Zambia, because more of such expenditure is coming.
who is to blame the PF or Mr. Sililo? everyones foundation (base) determines what your future holds. Dont ever live in furture while making the your foundation. You will fall like this Sililo rat. His foolishness has now costed the nation.
Can the courts also nullify all the seats where Guy Scott has been giving out tax-payers money?
Am tired of these nullifications and by elections.Please ba PF stop this nonsense before we become bankrupt as a Nation.
A black cloud over Zambia. We can only watch the country being ruined . WHY IS THE ROMAN CATHOLIC QUIET. Hitler was see by many as man of the people. Nobody knew he had evil colaboraters the The Roman Catholic behind him that would committe evil crimes and kill jews. READ HISTORY.
This is fantastic news because if PF wins Feira the seat can be nullified because BEFORE the election Kabimba donated money in the area.
JUST TAKE THE MATER TO COURT. AND IF YOU HAVE EVIDENCE, THE COURTS WILL RULE IN YOUR FAVOUR. BUT IF YOU ARE HALLUCINATING, THEN YOU ARE DOOMED.
Why is UPND taking long to petition in all constituencies where the by elections have been held?
Total failure of the P.F government . How do they even remove heat subside from the climate sure. this is too cold and pipo in rural area wont see benefits from this move………HH
Blame Sililo u idi ots and not pf who are only respecting the tenents of democracy by going to court.Whom can u cheat u stupi ds?If all the seats were to be nullified today on account of corruption so be it. lessons to be learnt here.