Ng’ona seeks Appeal Court intervention after lower court admits his expulsion from PF by Sampa

A Lusaka High Court ruling has left the expulsion of Morgan Ng’ona from the Patriotic Front intact after the court threw out his case for lack of prosecution.

Ng’ona has now appealed to the Court of Appeal, contesting the entire decision delivered on March 3, 2026, by High Court Judge Conceptor Chinyanwa‑Zulu.

In the ruling, the judge dismissed the matter after finding that Ng’ona had failed to actively pursue the case, comply with directions and take steps to move the matter toward trial.

“The failure to comply with the order for directions and therefore stalling the progress of the matter for almost four months can raise a substantial risk of not having a fair trial,” she said.

Ng’ona had sued Matero lawmaker Miles Sampa in 2024 in his capacity as PF president, seeking to overturn the decision to expel him from the party and remove him as secretary general.

But court records show that despite instructions issued on March 26, 2025, Ng’ona did not comply with key requirements, including filing a defence to Sampa’s counterclaim. Justice Zulu said the plaintiff took no meaningful steps after pleadings closed.

“The Rules of Court are intended to assist in the proper and orderly administration of justice and must be strictly followed,” the judge stated, adding that the delays showed lack of diligence and amounted to intentional disregard of court orders.

The case was dismissed for want of prosecution, with each party ordered to bear its own costs.

In his appeal, Ng’ona argues that the judge failed to consider several pending applications on record which, he says, showed the matter had not been abandoned.

He further contends that the court misdirected itself by granting Sampa’s application to dismiss the case without first determining whether the delay posed a substantial risk to the fairness of the trial.

Ng’ona is asking the Court of Appeal to overturn the ruling and reinstate the matter for a full hearing on its merits.

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