By AARON CHIYANZO
NAREP officials have petitioned the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) not to entertain the nomination of ousted party president, Steven Nyirenda who has already paid K95, 000 nomination fees for the Presidential race on the party ticket.
The party officials told ECZ that the matter involving the NAREP presidency was still in court pending determination of who the rightful holder of the political office was.
This is contained in a letter dated April 29, 2021 addressed to ECZ Chief Electoral Officer, Patrick Nshindano.
Lawyers representing, Mr Charles Maboshe, who was appointed president of NAREP to replace Mr Nyirenda, said the status of acclaimed office bearers for the party raises highly contentious issues.
The lawyers, CL Mundia and Company, stated that the legitimacy of Mr Nyirenda’s presidency was still in question.
“Our clients categorically reject the proposition that the 1st and 2nd plantiffs are legitimately in office as secretary general and president respectively and this position has firmly been brought to the attention of the court through a robust defence and opposition to the injuction at hand is yet to be heard on an inter parte basis,” the latter reads in part.
The lawyers indicated that the party was embroiled in serious litigation involving the current office bearers.
They also stated that one of the issues to be determined by the court was which party constitution was currently in effect and how the same affects the standing of the litigants in the cause.
The lawyers urged ECZ not to allow any of the parties to the action to impose or nominate any candidates at all levels in the forthcoming elections until the matter was resolved by the High Court.
“You will appreciate that permitting any of the parties to this action to sponsor candidates would represent a clear interference in the due administration of justice before the High court has an opportunity to determine this matter to its logical conclusion,” they wrote.
In response, Mr Nshindono in a letter dated May 4, 2021 requested for supporting court documents to “enable us proceed as intimated in your letter under reply.”
The court documents were submitted to the ECZ on Monday, May 10, 2021.
Mr Nyirenda was ousted last year over alleged failure to follow procedure and causing divisions in the party, among other reasons.
He challenged his expulsion in court on grounds that it was unconstitutional and wants a declaration that he is the duly-elected NAREP president.
