NG’ONA CLAIMS IN COURT KASANDWE, MELESIANA PHIRI RESIGNED FROM PF
PATRIOTIC Front party faction Secretary General, Morgan Ng'ona, has submitted to court that according to the party constitution, refusal by a Member of Parliament to remit monthly contribution amounts to voluntarily resignation.
Mr Ng'ona contended that the two Members of Parliament, Anthony Kasandwe and Melesiana Phiri, breached the PF party constitution when they declined to make their mandatory monthly contributions to the party as required.
He has also raised preliminary issues, asking the Constitutional Court to dismiss the matter on point of law.
Mr Ng'ona argued that the Constitutional Court had no jurisdiction to hear a matter bordering on breach of party constitution but one that concerns violation of the Republican constitution.
"However, I shall state their action to refuse to contribute were tantamount to resignation and that the letter referred to couldn't undo their earlier conduct which was equivalent to the speaker," he submitted
Mr Ng'ona said the action was brought before Court prematurely as internal issues were yet to be concluded.
Mr Kasandwe (Bangweulu MP) and Ms Phiri ( Milanzi MP) seek a declaration that the purported acceptance of their resignation by the illegally appointed Secretary General, Ng'ona through a letter dated March 4, 2024 on the basis of refusal to accept deductions to their salaries is illegal and in breach of Article 72(a) and (d) of the constitution.
The duo want the Constitutional Court to order the Speaker of the National Assembly not to act on the purported resignation letters and also Mr Sampa and his, Mr Ng'ona should be ordered to stop harassing the petitioners and interfering with their work as MPs.
They also seek an order that their purported expulsion from the party in line with Article 72 (2) (e) of the constitution is null and void for failure to accord them a right to be heard.
This is a according to a petition filed yesterday before the Constitutional Court citing Mr Sampa,Mr Ng'ona and the Attorney General as first to third reapondents.
The petitioners stated that after the 2021 general elections, it was agreed that K5, 000 would be deduced from the salary of each MP.