The Constitutional Court has declined to block Speaker of Parliament Nelly Mutti’s decision to declare the Chawama parliamentary seat vacant.
Constitutional lawyer Tresford Chali had approached the court to grant him an injunction staying or blocking the declaration of the seat held by Tasila Lungu, vacant.
Meanwhile, former cabinet minister Chishimba Kambwili has challenged President Hakainde Hichilema to put himself in Tasila Lungu’s shoes.
“Would you still go to Parliament while mourning your father,” Kambwili asks Hichilema.
Tasila Lungu has lost the Chawama parliamentary seat after it was declared vacant, and a by-election will be held within 90 days.
This development cane after governance expert Davies Lupindula called on the Speaker of the National Assembly to declare the seat vacant, citing that Tasila’s continued absence was disadvantaging residents.
Lupindula argued that the people of Chawama deserve a representative who will direct the constituency in areas of development.
Tasila Lungu had been given a deadline by Speaker Nelly Mutti to present herself to the National Assembly after her father’s passing.
However, her absence persisted due to a legal dispute over her father’s repatriation from South Africa.
According to the constitution, a by-election must be held within 90 days of the seat being declared vacant, as emphasized by the Electoral Commission of Zambia in a similar case.
The ruling United Party for National Development (UPND) is reportedly eyeing the Chawama seat, with Lusaka Province Chairman Obvious Mwaliteta stating that the party is interested in the seat due to Tasila’s absence.