By GRACE CHAILE LESOETSA
BOWMAN Lusambo left court before the ruling annulling his Kabushi seat could finish and only his lawyers remained to witness the loss of the appeal in the Constitutional Court.
According to the court ruling, the vibe, moral and ecstasy that characterised the election of Mr Lusambo as MP for the people of Kabushi constituency has been gauged to have been an abrogation of the Electoral Code of Conduct.
Mr Lusambo has however said this was a minor setback.
This is in a case Mr Lusambo sought legal redress in the Constitutional Court after the High Court nullified his election as Kabushi Member of Parliament on grounds of corruption and violence following a petition by losing UPND candidate Bernard Kanengo.
However, the ConCourt yesterday affirmed the decision of the lower court stating that the evidence on record did show that Mr Lusambo participated and had knowledge of the wrongful acts.
Mr Lusambo looked distraught throughout the reading of the judgement and left the Supreme Court before its conclusion while his party companions led by acting president Given Lubinda were visibly broken by the outcome.
The former MP posted on his Facebook page that the nullification was a minor setback, thus, accepted the outcome of the court process.
“We will use this period to restrategise and plan for the next stage of our political participation. We view this as a minor setback in our God’s intentioned plan to serve our people. To our people in Kabushi, do not be moved. Your choice shall remain the best,” he said.
Mr Lubinda said the expected by- elections will be a litmus test for the party, a year after losing power to UPND.
ConCourt Judge Palan Mulonda who read the judgement on behalf of other judges who included Hilda Chibomba, Professor Margaret Munalula, Mungeni Mulenga and Judy Mulongoti, said High Court Judge Edward Musona could not be faulted for having nullified the seat on corruption and violence.
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