Chief Justice Mumba Malila
LUSAKA — The Constitutional Court is set to consider documents seeking to challenge the outcome of Zambia’s August 13 presidential election after they were referred to the Court by Chief Justice Mumba Malila.
The Judiciary said the documents, described as “the people’s presidential petition”, were sent electronically to the Chief Justice’s private email address by a member of the public.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Judiciary said Chief Justice Malila had, despite considering the mode of delivery of official court documents through his private email to be “highly irregular”, used his administrative powers to refer the documents to the Constitutional Court.
The referral is for the Court’s consideration on the issue of the filing of the petition.
“The Chief Justice has quite exceptionally, using his administrative powers, referred the documents received to the Constitutional Court for its consideration on the issue of the filing of the petition,” the Judiciary said.
The Judiciary said the documents seek to challenge the outcome of the presidential election and include associated documents.
The development comes after claims circulated on social media that the petition had already been formally and duly filed.
However, the Judiciary did not confirm that the petition had been formally filed, instead saying the Constitutional Court will consider the issue of its filing.
The Judiciary said the affected parties would hear from the Constitutional Court in due course.
The statement was issued following the receipt of the electronic communication and documents by the Chief Justice.
