Lusambo Goes To ConCourt Over Nullified Seat

Former Lusaka Province Minister and MP for Kabushi constituency, Bowman Lusambo, has appealed to the Constitutional Court over the nullification of his parliamentary seat. 

It comes after a ruling by the Ndola High Court on Friday that Lusambo’s election to the seat in August was invalid owing to acts of violence, bribery and corruption during the campaign. 

In the initial ruling, Justice Musona observed that Mr Lusambo and his militia group, the Nato Forces, carried out widespread acts of violence across four of Kabushi’s eight wards.

The judge noted that Lusambo had been given the nickname ‘Bulldozer’ for his well-documented acts of intimidation. He also said that Lusambo had personally breached electoral laws on polling day, by visiting a voting station at Liyuni Primary School and making the PF symbol of a clenched fist while voters were in the queue. 

The case was brought forward by UPND candidate Bernard Kenengo, who said he had been compelled to act on behalf of the people of Kabushi, who had been denied the opportunity to freely elect their member of parliament. 

Lusambo is now appealing Justice Musona’s decision, arguing that he was only present on two occasions of violence which were alluded to in the initial trial. He is claiming that the judge made a mistake when he placed the blame on the former minister for failing to act to stop the violence.

He has added that, “the trial court erred in law and in fact when he held that the majority of the voters were or may have been prevented from voting for a candidate of their choice.”