Court Dismisses Petition Against Independent Candidates

The Lusaka High Court has dismissed a petition challenging the nomination of 101 independent parliamentary candidates.

The petition was filed last week by the Consortium of Civil Society Organisations for Good Governance and Constitutionalism, together with civil liberties activist Isaac Mwanza.

Lusaka High Court Judge-in-Charge Kelvin Limbani dismissed the petition, ruling that it had been brought before the court incompetently and improperly.

Judge Limbani said the petitioners had failed to attach a list of authorities and skeleton arguments to their petition. He explained that a petition must be accompanied by an affidavit verifying facts, a list of authorities, skeleton arguments, bundles of documents and a list of the documents to be relied upon.

In support of his decision, the Judge cited Rule 4(1) and (3) of the High Court Rules, as well as the 2007 case of Matilda Mutale versus Emmanuel Munaile.

The ruling means the 101 independent candidates remain cleared to contest their seats in the forthcoming General Election.