High Court reverses Parliament’s decision to declare 9 seats vacant

By Hannock Kasama

The LUSAKA High Court has reversed the decision by Second Deputy Speaker MOSES MOYO to declare nine Parliamentary seats vacant.

Judge SUZEN WANJELANI who delivered the verdict in LUSAKA today ruled that Mr. MOYO lacked jurisdiction to deliver his ruling in such a fashion because the nine PF members of Parliament whose seats were declared had challenged their expulsion in the High Court.

She cited the case of CHISHIMBA KAMBWILI versus the Attorney General of 2019.

Judge WANJELANI’s judgment follows the application for Judicial Review filed by the nine members of Parliament whose seats were declared vacant by Second Deputy Speaker MOSES MOYO on July 3, 2024.

The nine are RONALD CHITOTELA of PAMBASHE, MUTOTWE KAFWAYA of LUNTE, and BRIAN MUNDUBILE of MPOROKOSO.

Others are REMEMBER MUTALE of CHITAMBO , MUSONDA MPAKATA of LUPOSOSHI , MULENGA FUBE of CHILUBI, CHRISTOPHER KANGOMBE of KAMFINSA and NICKSON CHILANGWA of KAWAMBWA.

Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly MOSES MOYO declared their seats vacant following a point of order raised by CHOMA Central Member of Parliament CORNELIUS MWEETWA on June 28, 2024.

Mr. MWEETWA argued that the seats had fallen vacant following the expulsion of the MPs by PF secretary General MORGAN NG’ONA in December 2023.