ZNBC ‘S PAUL SHALALA REPORTS THAT The Kitwe High Court has dismissed the petition by losing UPND Kamfinsa Parliamentary candidate SUBETA MUTELO against the election of Member of Parliament for Kamfinsa CHRISTOPHER KANG’OMBE.
Meanwhile, there was a fracas at the High Court between UPND and PF cadres after the judgment.
Kitwe High Court Judge ABBA PATEL ruled that the petitioner did not prove her allegations of massive electoral violence and abrogation of the electoral rules.
In her two hour judgment delivered this morning, Justice PATEL said the petitioner did not prove to the court how her allegations of Mr. KANG’OMBE donating mealie meal, money and meat influenced the voting pattern in Kamfinsa Constituency.
She says despite several witnesses alleging that they received money from Mr. KANGOMBE, they all voted freely on polling day and no one forced them to choose a candidate.
In dismissing the petition, Justice PATEL declared Mr. KANG’OMBE as the duly elected Kamfinsa Member of Parliament.
She further gave the petitioner leave to appeal her judgment to the Constitutional Court and ruled that both sides bear their own costs.
Meanwhile, speaking after the judgment, Ms MUTELO said she is yet to meet her legal team to decide whether to appeal or not.
And Mr. KANG’OMBE has thanked the Judiciary for bringing the petition to an end.
Mr. KANG’OMBE says the many weeks he has spent at court affected his work in the Constituency and he is now hopeful of getting back to work in various communities.
A security officer from the judiciary was punched in the face and Mr. KANG’OMBE’s convoy was blocked from leaving the court premises by suspected UPND Cadres.
Police later managed to whisk the law maker out of the Kitwe High Court premises though his convoy was pelted with stones and bottles.
