CHITEME ASKS COURT TO AWARD HIM COSTS INCURED IN THE LEGAL BATTLE.
By Manzi SImfukwe
Nkana Member of Parliament Alexander Chiteme has asked the Kitwe High Court to award him costs arising from the petition and compensation for the stress he says he has experienced as a result of the legal battle.
He made the application when he appeared as a first respondent before High Court Judge Mathews Zulu, who is sitting in Kitwe, in a petition case filed by losing UPND parliamentary candidate Francis Mukuka.
Chiteme denied allegations of Violence, intimidation and bribery during election filed by the petitioner and told the court that prior to August 13th Elections he was sick and hospitalized for 3days and only spent 21 days out of 90 days for campaigning that was given by the ECZ.
According to Chiteme his campaign did not have enough resources to hold rallies, print posters and no regalia the only way was to go door to door.
He told the court that he had only one campaign manager by the name of Emmanuel N’gwane and the named personnel said to be his managers by the petitioner are not his accredited agents or managers.
Chiteme further told the court that according to the ECZ guidelines he can only be held accountable for actions by himself and persons he accredits as his agents.
Meanwhile one of the witnesses Rodgers Bezika told the court that the deployment of police officers and soldiers made it difficult for anyone to have access to the polling station but only those accredited therefore there was no allegation of intimidation, and bribery by the petitioner.