CHIEF JUSTICE DR. MUMBA MALILA CONFIRMS RECIEVING PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION PETITION VIA HIS PRIVATE EMAIL

Petition Fowarded to Constitutional Court-Chief Justice CHIEF JUSTICE CONFIRMS RECEIPT OF PETITION VIA PRIVATE EMAIL Chief Justice Mumba Malila has confirmed receipt of a presidential petition sent to his private email address by a member of the public. The petition, designated as “the people’s presidential petition”, challenges the outcome of the presidential election held during […]

Petition Fowarded to Constitutional Court-Chief Justice

CHIEF JUSTICE CONFIRMS RECEIPT OF PETITION VIA PRIVATE EMAIL

Chief Justice Mumba Malila has confirmed receipt of a presidential petition sent to his private email address by a member of the public.

The petition, designated as “the people’s presidential petition”, challenges the outcome of the presidential election held during the August 13 general elections.

In a statement issued today by Deputy Director of Corporate Communications at the Judiciary of Zambia, Kalumba Chisambisha-Slavin, the Judiciary acknowledged that it is aware of social media claims suggesting the petition has been formally filed.

Justice Malila observed that the use of his private address for official court documents is highly irregular.

He noted that he has, quite exceptionally, used his administrative powers to refer the received documents to the Constitutional Court.

The Chief Justice advanced that the referral is for the Constitutional Court to consider the issue of whether the petition has been properly filed.

He said that the affected parties can expect to hear from the Constitutional Court in due course.

Justice Malila guided that the mode of communication does not constitute formal lodgement of the petition with the Judiciary

He added that the public should rely only on official channels for information regarding court filings.

The statement clarified that the Chief Justice’s action does not set a precedent for future correspondence.

Justice Malila emphasised that all official court documents must follow prescribed procedures for filing.

The Judiciary has urged the public to await the Constitutional Court’s determination on the matter.