Two More PF MPs Have Elections Nullified

Two more Patriotic Front Members of Parliament have had their results in August’s elections nullified by courts following evidence of bribery and corruption.

Lubeaneshi MP Taulo Chewe and Chinwemwe MP Allen Banda have both seen their seats overturned by judges at the Kasama and Ndola High Courts respectively. 

It comes after former Lusaka Province Minister and MP for Kabushi constituency Bowman Lusambo had his election result nullified last week for corruption and repeated voter intimidation. He has since appealed the decision to the constitutional court. 

Mr Chewe, who in August was elected to Lubaneshi constituency, was found guilty on Tuesday of repeated electoral malpractice, including distributing mealie meal to about 600 voters and instructing them to vote for the PF.

Judge Maria Kawimbe, who was presiding over the case, also found that Mr Chewe had addressed 200 civil servants and police officers during working hours and paid them K5,100 in refreshments in order to sway their votes. 

“I hold that the first respondent engaged in electoral malpractices and irregularities which, substantially affected the majority of voters in Lubaneshi constituency,” the judge said, before nullifying the election. 

Similarly Lusaka High Court Judge Bubile Shonga, who was sitting in Ndola, nullified the election of Chimwemwe MP Allen Banda after finding irregularities in the Electoral Commission of Zambia’s conduct.

She said that the ECZ’s failure to provide polling agents with Gen20 forms in about 30 polling stations affected the credibility of the elections, with votes being misallocated in at least six polling stations.

However, Judge Shonga rejected claims that Mr Banda had engaged in bribery and the unauthorised opening of ballot boxes. She said that the alleged acts of bribery – drilling a borehole and contributing to the construction of a local school – were carried out before Mr Banda was adopted as the PF’s candidate.