Voter registration case adjourned indefinitely
HIGH Court Judge Mwila Chitabo yesterday indefinitely adjourned the case in which the UPND has challenged the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) over its online voter registration exercise, seeking judicial review.
This was after all sides represented by their lawyers agreed to have the matter adjourned sine die with liberty to restore it.
In this matter, UPND deputy secretary general Gertrude Imenda on behalf of the party sued ECZ and the Attorney General as first and second respondent respectively in the Lusaka High Court.
Appearing for the State, Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa said the parties were equally aware of a matter before the Constitutional court cause number 2020/ ccz/0010 between Chapter One Foundation Limited, the ECZ and the Attorney General.
SG Mwansa said the parties are also aware and have appreciated the reliefs before that court.
He however said the parties have been made aware that there is an application for the amendment of the petition before a single judge of that court and that the ruling is yet to be delivered.
“The parties before you are of the view that unless and until there is certainty in terms of the reliefs, the petitioner (Chapter One Foundation) seeks before the Constitutional Court, there may be the judication of the same reliefs before this honourable Court,” Mr Mwansa said.
“The parties have therefore by consent agreed to have this matter before you adjourned sine die with liberty to restore,” he said.
UPND lawyer Marshal Muchende said it was a unanimous decision from their end and the idea is to obviate a possibility of two courts rendering conflicting judgements with regards to the same issues as that would bring about grave embarrassment to the judicial department to which they all belong.
“This is a demonstration of distilled disposition of professional etiquette and any ethic at the bar. I stand adjourned sine die with liberty to restore as we await pronouncement of the superior court of the Constitutional Court,” Judge Chitabo ruled.
This comes barely two days after Judge Gertrude Chawatama discontinued proceedings in a case in which civil activist Michael Zulu and four others sued the ECZ over voter registration because of a similar case (UPND case) before the High Court.