HIGH COURT DISMISSES UPND-SPONSORED PETITION AGAINST INDEPENDENTS
The Lusaka High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the nomination of 101 independent aspiring parliamentary candidates in the August general elections.
Last week, a consortium of Civil Society Organisations led by Isaac Mwanza filed a petition challenging the eligibility of over 100 parliamentary candidates contesting as independents in the upcoming 2026 general elections.
Mwanza’s Consortium of Civil Society Organisations accused a number of aspiring Members of Parliament of unlawfully presenting themselves as independent candidates while still belonging to political parties.
However, Lusaka High Court Judge-in-Charge Kelvin Limbani dismissed the petition on grounds that it was incompetently and improperly before the court.
Judge Limbani said the petitioners failed to attach a list of authorities and skeleton arguments to their petition.
He stated that a petition must be accompanied by an Affidavit verifying facts, a list of authorities, skeleton arguments, bundles of documents and a list of documents to be relied upon.
Judge Limbani cited Rule 4(1) and (3) of the High Court Rules, as well as the 2007 case of Matilda Mutale versus Emmanuel Munaile in support of his decision.