UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda and President Hakainde Hichilema have asked the Constitutional Court to dismiss a petition challenging the President’s eligibility to contest this year’s General Election, describing the matter as an abuse of court process.
In their defence filed before the court through lawyers Michael Moono of L.J. Michaels Legal Practitioners and State Counsel Mulambo Haimbe of Malambo & Co, the respondents argue that the petition raises issues already before another court and should therefore be dismissed with costs.
They have also challenged the court’s jurisdiction and questioned the petitioner’s locus standi to commence the action.
The respondents further denied claims that President Hichilema was improperly adopted by the ruling UPND, stating that the party conducted intra-party elections between January and April 2026 before holding its General Assembly and National Convention from April 14 to 16, where he was duly adopted in accordance with party procedures and the law.
By Josphat Hamakala
