By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
HIGH Court Judge Derrick Mulenga has sternly warned that he will not hesitate to send to prison anyone found interfering with witnesses in the Matero Parliamentary election petition.
Mr Justice Mulenga also warned both Patriotic Front (PF) and the United Party for National Development (UPND) that they should make no mistake to attack or harass any court official, lawyers or perspective witnesses in the case as that would attract a serious sentence.
He said the Court is a sacred place and should be respected as such and not to be “sent to the dogs”.
The Judge said this yesterday after the petitioner in the case; UPND candidate Tom Michelo through his lawyer Ms Martha Mushipe complained to the court that there was serious interference with his witnesses.
But Matero Member of Parliament (MP) Miles Sampa’s lawyers who included former Kabwe Central lawmaker Tutwa Ngulube, said there was also obstruction with their witnesses and urged Ms Mushipe to file for contempt of court.
But the petitioner’s lawyers objected to the argument by the respondent’s lawyers that contempt proceedings ought to have been commenced to address the issue saying it was lacking in merit.
They further argued that both witnesses for the petitioner and the respondent ought to be protected.
Mr Justice Mulenga in his ruling over the complaint raised said that the court could not close its eyes when issues of obstruction of witnesses were being brought up.
“While this matter is before me, no person should bully a perceptive witness or interfere with them. I will deal with that person decisively. And avoid moving up and down while the court is in session. Any attempt to lay hands on a court official or uttering of any words , will be insulting the decorum of this court. I will deal with you decisively. By the time we hear about you, you would have served a number of years of your sentence,” he warned.
Meanwhile, Mr Michelo testified that the UPND Matero office was constantly under attack by PF supporters who were armed with firearms, golf sticks , slashers, teargas canisters, catapults among other weapons.
“The environment in Matero Constituency was unbearable for one who was known to be UPND to an extent that it was even difficult to book a taxi as taxi drivers were scared to carry UPND supporter for fear of victimization,” he stated.
Mr Michelo wants the court to nullify the election of Mr Sampa on account that the elections were marred with violence, corruption and bribery.
