|
|
|
|
| National |
| Candidates challenge results |
|
by
Joseph Langa, 03 June 2004
-
19:30:27
|
The High Court in Lilongwe has granted an injunction to Ken Zikhale Ng’oma who was UDF parliamentary candidate for Lilongwe Kumachenga constituency restricting Billings Chikhadwe (MCP) from being sworn in as MP on Monday.
The court is yet to hear two other applications from Nkhotakota South independent candidate Adden Mbowani who lost to Vice President Cassim Chilumpha and Lilongwe Central UDF candidate Shadreck Kumchenga who was trounced by MCP’s Betson Majoni.
The two want results in the two constituencies nullified alleging irregularities during voting and tabulation of results.
Ngo’oma’s lawyer Ishmael Wadi of Liwimbi and Wadi confirmed in an interview on Thursday that the court has granted his client an injunction stopping Chikhadwe from being sworn in as MP next Monday.
Wadi says he wants the court to declare that the MCP candidate contested illegally because he registered twice which contravened the Presidential and Parliamentary Elections Act.
“The injunction is valid until the court’s determination on my client’s petition. We also noted several irregularities during voting and tabulation of results,” said Wadi claiming some chiefs were threatening his client’s supporters during and before the polling day.
Lilongwe High Court registry confirmed the development on Thursday saying the injunction was granted by Judge Dial Kumange on Wednesday.
The court also confirmed receiving the other petitions from Kumchenga and Mbowani.
Lawyer for Mbowani, Andrew Katuya of William Faulkner said he wants the court to nullify the elections in the constituency because his client allegedly noted alteration of results “which were brought to the tally centres already opened”.
He also alleged that Chilumpha’s supporters were heard announcing with a public address system a day before voting that his client had withdrawn from the race to support the vice president.
“We are just waiting for the court to set a date for hearing. We want the results nullified so that they could be a rerun. The court has assured that a date will be communicated to us very soon,” said Katuwa.
According to court records, Kumchenga who is challenging Majoni’s victory is also arguing against the irregularities during the voting and counting of results.
He is also asking for the annulment of the results to effect a rerun.
|
| |
|
|
|
|
|
