NEWLY elected Mangango Constituency member of Parliament, Robert Chiseki (MMD) has been arrested and charged with fraudulently obtaining a Zambian national registration card (NRC) and giving false information to the public.
Minister of Home Affairs Kennedy Sakeni said in a statement on October 12 that investigations into this matter started before the September 20 tripartite elections.
He explained that inspite of the available information at the time, the former ruling party went on to adopt him as its candidate.
“I therefore wish to confirm that this arrest is not politically motivated. I would also like to warn members of the public to desist from obtaining NRCs by giving false information to officers as this is a crime.
Mr Chiseki appeared in the Kaoma Magistrates Court yesterday and has been granted K1 million bail.
On Tuesday President Sata said a refugee had won parliamentary elections after obtaining an NRC. President Sata commended Minister of Home Affirms Kennedy Sakeni for his tremendous efforts to have the Mangango member of Parliament Robert Chiseki arrested.
Meanwhile, Patriotic Front (PF) has petitioned the Lusaka High Court to nullify the election of Felix Mutati and Misheck Mutelo as MMD members of Parliament for Lunte and Lukulu West Constituencies.
PF Lunte Constituency losing candidate Emmanuel Chilubanama and Lukulu West losing candidate Eileen Imbwae have asked the High Court to nullify the two seats stating that the polls were marred by violence and vote buying.
Mr Mutati and Mr Mutelo were declared winners of Lunte and Lukulu West Constituencies, respectively in the September 20 tripartite elections. This is contained in separate election petitions filed in the Lusaka High Court on October 11.
Mr Chilubanama, of farm number 50a Makeni in Lusaka said the campaigns in the elections were characterised by bribery and corruption of voters. He said the bribery and corrupting of would-be voters is contrary to section 79 of the Electoral Act number 12 of 2006, particularly subsections (c) (d) and (f).
“Your petitioner therefore prays for a declaration that the election was null and void and a declaration that Mr Mutati was duly elected as a scrutiny, verification or recount of the votes casts,” Mr Chilubanama said.
He is also praying for costs and incidentals to the petition and any other declaration or order the court will deem fit. Mr Chilubanama said Mr Mutati allegedly distributed iron sheets and donated desks to a community school and urged people to vote for him.
And Ms Imbwae of F197a/y/2 Bob Strasser road, Lusaka West has sued Mr Mutelo (first defendant), Electoral Commission of Zambia (second defendant) and Attorney General (third defendant).
She said the election of Mr Mutelo was void by reason of corrupt and illegal practices and voters in the area were prevented from electing their preferred candidate due to electoral offences, intimidation and threats.
Ms Imbwae said during the campaign period Mr Mutelo allegedly told the electorate she had pulled out of the race and had travelled to China.
She said prior to the election day Mr Mutelo and his agents went door to door campaigning and distributing money ranging from K5, 000 to K100, 000 an act which was illegal and corrupt and amounted to bribery contrary to the Act.
[Zambia Daily Mail]
