ECZ Disqualifies Lusambo and Malanji From By-Elections

The Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) has said it will not consider electoral nominations from Patriotic Front candidates Joseph Malanji and Bowman Lusambo to recontest their Kwacha and Kabushi seats respectively.

Nominations for the by-elections were due to open today, however the ECZ has said it will not consider nominations from the former PF MPs after they had their seats nullified by the Constitutional Court.

ECZ Corporate Affairs Manager Patricia Luhanga said this was in accordance with Article 72 (4) of the constitution.

Lusambo lost his Kabushi seat in July after multiple courts found evidence of voter fraud and harassment by the former minister’s ‘Nato Forces’ paramilitary group, triggering a by-election to be run in September.

Similarly, Kwacha MP Joe Malanji had his seat nullified earlier this month after the Constitutional Court found that he did not have his Grade 12 Certificate and was therefore unqualified to serve.

Both Malanji and Lusambo have said they will recontest their seats at the upcoming by-elections, promising to take the ECZ to court if they are prevented from filing their nomination papers.

The ECZ’s ruling has since been questioned by the Law Association of Zambia, which claims that the Constitutional Court’s ruling does not preclude Lusambo from running again in an election. The LAZ also says that Malanji’s eligibility depends on whether he can produce his Grade 12 certificate.