By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
CHRISTHOPHER Shakafuswa contends that the election results declaring him as Mandevu Member of Parliament (MP) was a true reflection of what the electorate voted.
And Mkushi Resident Magistrate Mwiinga Simaanya has upheld the election of Stavious Mulumba as duly elected Council Chairperson for Serenje district.
Mr Shakafuswa has denied using any unlawful means such as bribery and violence to amass 56, 527 votes.
In this matter, UPND losing candidate Aaron Mulope who got 37, 644 votes has petitioned the Lusaka High Court to nullify the election of Mr Shakafuswa as Mandevu MP.
Mr Mulope in his petition stated that election results declaring Mr Shakafuswa as the Mandevu MP were not a true reflection of what the electorate would have voted had there been a level, free and fair electoral environment.
He maintained that voters were prevented from electing their preferred candidate.
But Mr Shakafuswa stated that the mentioned votes were freely cast by the people of the Constituency.
He has also denied allegations of alteration of votes tally and distribution of mealie meal to would be voters.
Mr Shakafuswa argued that there was compliance with the Electoral Process Act and the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Meanwhile, in a matter in which losing Independent Candidate Mr. Patrick Munshya had petitioned the election of Patriot Front (PF) candidate Mr. Mulumba citing electoral malpractices, Magistrate Simaanya said the petitioner did not met the requisite threshold of proof.
“We find no merit in the Petition as the allegations by the Petitioner were not substantiated with cogent evidence and above all, the requisite threshold of proof was not met.
“We therefore uphold the election of the respondent as the duly elected Council Chairperson for Serenje district,” read part of the judgement.
Magistrate Simaanya, after dismissing the petition ordered that each part shall bear their own costs.
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