Sylvia Masebo’s hopes of a quick return to Parliament have been dashed after The Lusaka High Court threw out her petition against the election of PF’s Japhen Mwakalombe as Chongwe Member of Parliament.
The UPND losing candidate had challenged Mwakalombe’s victory in the High Court on grounds that the Chongwe parliamentary electionelection was marred with irregularities and malpractice.
In her petition, Masebo alleged that Mwakalombe engaged in malicious propaganda, intimidation, and illegal practices against her. She also claimed her monitors were not given copies of the Gen 12 and that ‘ghost voters’ were allowed to vote.
But High Court Judge Getrude Chawatama dismissed Masebo’s petition and ruled that Mwakalombe was duly elected as Member of Parliament for Chongwe Constituency.
The former Tourism Minister had served the people of Chongwe for three five-year terms under three different political parties, a record in Zambian politics. She was bidding for an unprecedented fourth term under four different political parties.