‎Presidential petition must be heard -- Kateka

‎...says Chief Justice Dr Malila is on record informing the nation that the presidential petition had been forwarded to the Constitutional Court, as she urges the Law Association of Zambia to take the lead in pushing for the petition to be addressed, keep the public informed‎By BARNABAS ZULU‎CHIEF Justice Dr Mumba Malila should ensure that the Judiciary provide an update on the presidential election petition filed by lawyer Linda Kasonde and activist Brebner Changala meant to challenge the re-election of President Hakainde Hichilema in the August 13, 2026 disputed general elections, Chishlala Kateka has said.‎Ms Kateka, the New Heritage Party (NHP) leader says the presidential petition challenging the re-election of President Hichilema should be heard despite the head of State having been sworn-in and assumed the office of President.‎She said the Judiciary should inform the nation whether the petition was properly before the Constitutional Court, and whether it would be entertained and when proceedings were expected to commence.‎Ms Kateka said Dr Malila had previously informed the nation that he had received the petition through email and subsequently forwarded it to the Constitutional Court.‎"Chief Justice Dr Malila is on record informing the nation that he had received the petition through email and subsequently forwarded it to the Constitutional Court. Since then, the nation has been waiting to receive the response and way forward from the courts regarding the said petition," she said.‎Ms Kateka said the Judiciary had a responsibility to keep the public informed on matters of significant national interest.‎"As a Zambian citizen, I am requesting a response from the courts, particularly from the Chief Justice himself as head of the Judiciary, on the status of the petition," she said.‎Ms Kateka argued that hearing the petition would provide important lessons and establish legal precedents for future reference, even though a candidate in the disputed election had already been sworn into office.‎She said the proceedings could also help bring closure to the election dispute by addressing concerns among citizens and supporters who felt aggrieved by the closure of the courts during the presidential petition period.‎Ms Kateka said hearing the matter would also help restore public confidence in the Judiciary.‎"The hearing of the petition would therefore prove to be quite fruitful and not be an exercise in futility," she said.‎She also urged the Law Association of Zambia to take the lead in pushing for the petition to be addressed and keeping the public informed about its progress.

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‎Presidential petition must be heard -- Kateka