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After more than two years of internal wrangles over who is the legitimate leader of the Patriotic Front (PF), the Lusaka High Court has reserved judgment in the high-profile case.
The party’s leadership disputes have seen shifts in allegiance and competing claims of authority, swinging from Miles Sampa to Robert Chabinga, deepening the factional divide within the former ruling party.
At the centre of the court battle is Matero MP Miles Sampa, who did not file a witness statement and opted not to testify.
Sampa’s lawyer, Anthony Kasolo, informed the court that his client had not filed any witness statement and would not take the stand.
PF faction secretary general Morgan N’gona, testifying before Judge Conceptor Chinyawa-Zulu, conceded under cross-examination that the power to summon an extraordinary conference lies with the party’s Central Committee.
Read more: Miles Sampa secures right to defend Matero seat in constitutional court case
The case was brought by Mporokoso MP Brian Mundubile and seven others, who are challenging the legitimacy of the October 24, 2023, extraordinary conference that elected Sampa as PF president.
They argued that the conference was held in total defiance of the party constitution and should be declared null and void.
During cross-examination led by plaintiff counsels Chapatama Ng’aba and Jonas Zimba, N’gona struggled to provide documentation supporting the validity of the conference.
He confirmed that he was appointed secretary general by Sampa but admitted he had not produced the meeting notice, attendance register, resignation letters from Central Committee or National Council members, or evidence of the electoral committee chairperson’s resignation.
“You agree with me that the power to summon an extraordinary conference is vested in the Central Committee?” Zimba asked.
“I have no dispute,” N’gona responded.
The defence has since closed its case, and Judge Chinyawa-Zulu reserved judgment to a date to be communicated.
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