The Constitutional Court has dismissed a petition challenging President Hakainde Hichilema’s nomination for the August 13 General Election.
A bench of seven judges ruled this afternoon that the matter lacked merit.
Judge Martin Musaluke delivered the judgement saying if a nomination is not rejected on nomination day, the candidate qualifies.
The court found that petitioner Charles Longwe’s grounds, that UPND failed to hold free and fair intra-party elections, do not fall under Article 52.
The court ordered each party to bear its own costs.
Longwe had sued UPND Secretary General Batuke Imenda, President Hichilema, the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the Registrar of Societies and the Attorney General.
Respondents argued the petition concerned internal party affairs, not presidential qualifications under Articles 100 and 106(3).
By Josphat Hamakala
