NGIMBU FIRES BACK AT MANO’S ELECTION PETITION FOR ZAMBEZI CENTRAL.
Independent Member of Parliament-elect Raphael Ngimbu has hit back at a petition seeking to overturn his election, asking the Lusaka High Court to dismiss the case with costs.
The petition was filed by UPND candidate Dennis Mano, who is challenging Ngimbu’s victory in Zambezi Central.
In his response through his lawyers, Ngimbu denied all allegations of electoral malpractice, maintaining that he was validly elected and duly declared winner by the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ).
Ngimbu has described the allegations in the petition as unsubstantiated and a misrepresentation of facts. He has also countered with allegations of electoral malpractice against Mano during the campaign period, on polling day and afterwards.
On the allegation that he campaigned on polling day, Ngimbu strongly denied the claim, stating that he was at home on bed rest. He said that if any of his agents engaged in campaigning, it was done without his knowledge, authorisation, consent or approval.
His legal team argues that the petition is devoid of merit and that the reliefs being sought by Mano are untenable.
Ngimbu is now asking the court to dismiss the petition with costs and uphold his declaration as the duly elected MP for Zambezi Central.
THE NUMBERS:
Raphael Ngimbu : 8,339 votes
Dennis Mano : 7,816 votes
Margin : 523 votes
Meanwhile, Ngimbu is expected to be sworn in as Member of Parliament tomorrow at the National Assembly in Lusaka, despite the ongoing legal challenge.