By Ollus Ndomu
Zambia’s Constitutional Court has ruled in favor of Miles Sampa, the Patriotic Front (PF) party president, in a case brought by nine expelled PF lawmakers. The court found no constitutional breach in their expulsion, marking a vital victory for Sampa in the ongoing internal party dispute.
The nine lawmakers, including Ronald Chitotela, Nickson Chilangwa, and Brian Mundubile, had argued that Sampa’s expulsion of them from the party was illegitimate, claiming his presidency was secured through an illegal convention. They contended that only the party’s central committee had the authority to expel members, not Sampa, who they alleged was improperly installed as party president.
However, Constitutional Court President Margaret Munalula, speaking on behalf of her ten colleagues, ruled that the court’s jurisdiction does not extend to interpreting political party constitutions, but rather to the laws of the country as specified in Article 128. She noted that the petition did not demonstrate a violation of Article 60(2) of the Zambian Constitution, which deals with political parties.
“The petition does not disclose any constitutional issue for determination by this court,” Munalula stated. “The court has no jurisdiction to entertain the petition in its current form.”
The court’s decision effectively nullifies the petition, asserting that it involved private rights within a political party, a matter for the High Court rather than the Constitutional Court. This ruling supports Sampa’s authority to expel the lawmakers, further solidifying his leadership within the PF.
As a result, the petition has been dismissed, and each party has been ordered to bear its own costs. This ruling is a notable victory for Sampa, who likens his political tactics to those of French football star Kylian Mbappe, scoring a key goal against his opponents within the PF.
Key Points:
- Constitutional Court Ruling: The court found no constitutional breach in Sampa’s expulsion of the nine PF lawmakers.
- Jurisdiction: The court determined that the issue involved internal party matters, not constitutional ones.
- Political Implications: The ruling strengthens Miles Sampa’s position as PF president amidst internal party conflicts.
- Future Proceedings: The decision highlights the separation of jurisdiction between the High Court and the Constitutional Court in Zambia.
This decision reflects the complexities of political party governance and the legal boundaries within which such disputes are resolved in Zambia.
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