Friday, March 29, 2024

High Court set November 11 as judgement day in Former Defence Minister’s election Petition

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HIGH Court judge Mathews Zulu has set November 11, 2016 as the date for judgement in a case in which losing Patriotic Front (PF) candidate Richwell Siamunene has petitioned the election of United Party for National Development (UPND)’s Gift Sialubalo as Sinazongwe Member of Parliament (MP).

Mr Justice Zulu said both the Petitioner and the Respondent were expected to make submission before the Court next week.

The matter came to a close after both the Petitioner and Respondent called witnesses to testify before the High Court sitting in Livingstone.

Mr Siamunene, 44, has told the High Court that the election of Sialubalo during the August 11, 2016 General Elections could not be deemed to be free and fair because of alleged widespread violence, intimidation, bribery and other electoral malpractices instigated by UPND supporters.

He is being represented by Bonaventure Mutale of Ellis and Company as well as Friday Besa of Besa Legal Practitioners while Mr Sialubalo is being represented by Cheelo Mwiinga of MAK Partners.

Mr Sialubalo has on the other hand asked the High Court to dismiss Mr Siamunene’s petition stating that the allegations in his petition did not justify or show proof of violence, malpractice and corruption during the campaigns in Sinazongwe.

In another development, High Court Judge Mutale Bowa has set November 23, 2016 as the date for judgement in a matter in which losing PF Shangombo parliamentary candidate Poniso Njeulu has petitioned the election UPND’s Mubika Mubika as the dully elected Shangombo MP.

Mr Njeulu 50, a farmer and former Western Province Minister has petitioned the election of Mubika the respondent on grounds that the election results of Shangombo did not reflect the will of the people.

But Mr Mubika dismissed allegations of corruption as well as violence and other electoral malpractices attributed to his party during the August 11, 2016 General Elections.

He described the allegations contained in the election petition as mere stories which have been made up by the petitioner.

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