KITWE HIGH COURT TO SIT IN CHINGOLA TO HEAR KABUSWE’s PETITION AGAINST CHILILABOMBWE ELECTION.
By Festus Ivwananji Sinkala
The trial in the Chililabombwe parliamentary election petition commences today, with the Kitwe High Court sitting in Chingola.
Former Chililabombwe Member of Parliament Paul Kabuswe has petitioned the court seeking to nullify the election, citing alleged electoral irregularities, corruption, violence, undue influence and character assassination.
Kabuswe, who contested on the UPND ticket, lost to Resolute Party candidate Nsofwa Lupele, who polled 10,920 votes against his 8,986 votes.
In his petition, Kabuswe alleges that Lupele and his agents distributed cash ranging from K50 to K100 to voters at Ishuko Tavern polling station on election day.
He further alleges that his rival engaged in character assassination, accusing him of theft, tribalism and nepotism.
The former MP has also cited alleged irregularities in results recorded by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ), claiming his supporters were blocked from voting after rocks were placed across the road at Fikolongo in Chitambi Ward, preventing his vehicle that was ferrying voters to a polling station.
Kabuswe wants the court to declare that the election was not conducted in accordance with the Constitution and the Electoral Process Act, and to nullify Lupele’s election and order a fresh parliamentary election in Chililabombwe.
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