Court clears Dora Siliya and two other candidates for by-elections

Ms Siliya, former Malambo Member of Parliament Maxwell Mwale and former Mulobezi Member of Parliament Hastings Sililo had challenged the decision of the Electoral Commission of Zambia to bar them from re-contesting their parliamentary seats following nullification of their seats for engaging in electoral corruption.

But High Court Judge Mungeni Mulenga in her ruling this morning quashed the decision of the Electoral Commission of Zambia to bar the trio stating that the electoral body had no right to stop them from filing nominations.

Judge Mulenga ruled that a statement by judiciary public relations officer Terry Musonda and a letter by the acting registrar of the High Chilombo Phiri had no legal basis to stop the three from filing their nomination.

Judge Mulenga in her ruling said there was no report from the High court to the Electoral Commission of Zambia as stipulated in the Electoral law stopping the three from contesting the by-elections.

She said it was not right for the Electoral Commission of Zambia to stop the trio from recontesting their seats in the absence of a report from the High Court.

The High court ruling will pave the way for the ECZ to set a new date for the three parliamentary by-elections which were initially set to be held on 5th September,2013.

And speaking to journalists after the judgment was delivered United Party for National Development Secretary General Winston Chibwe described the judgment as honorable.

He said it is important for ruling party not to issue instructions through illegal methods.

Mr Chibwe says the ruling serves as a lesson to the government not to bring frivolous cases to court that will jeopardize the constitution.

And MMD Lusaka province Chairman Watson Mtonga says justice has been done by the court through the ruling.