DR. ANDELEKI SAYS PETITION SENT TO CHIEF JUSTICE’S PRIVATE EMAIL FAILS COURT FILING RULES.
By Favourite K. Chisi
United Party for National Development (UPND) Kazungula North Member of Parliament Clement Andeleki has charged that the presidential petition against the 2026 election results, said to have been sent to the private email of the Chief Justice, does not meet the requirements prescribed under the Constitutional Court Rules.
In an interview with Ptv2 News, Dr Andeleki says the rules require proper filing at the court registry and payment of the prescribed fees before documents can be considered formally filed.
He further argues that the Chief Justice does not have the legal authority to refer a purported petition directly to the Constitutional Court.
Dr Andeleki, who is also a lawyer, says the filing of a presidential petition is strictly regulated by the Constitution and the Constitutional Court Rules.
He says sending documents to a private email address of an individual, including the Chief Justice, does not amount to filing a petition before the Constitutional Court.
He says the Chief Justice, Mumba Malila, is not a judge of the Constitutional Court and therefore has no authority to refer a purported petition to the Constitutional Court.
Dr Andeleki says the Constitutional Court Rules, including Statutory Instrument Number 33 of 2026, clearly outline the procedures that must be followed when filing a presidential election petition.
He says the process requires documents to be submitted through the appropriate court registry and the prescribed filing fees to be paid.
Meanwhile, Dr Andeleki has congratulated President Hakainde Hichilema and the UPND on their electoral victory, describing the result as a convincing mandate from the Zambian people.
He says the country should now focus on peace, national unity and development rather than prolonging political contestation after the elections.