The Supreme Court has upheld nullification of election of Rueben Mtolo Phiri as Chipata Central Member of Parliament.

The Supreme Court has upheld nullification of the election of MMD, Movement for Multi-Party Democracy’s Rueben Mtolo Phiri as Chipata Central Member of Parliament.
Mwape Kumwenda from Muvi television reports that Supreme Court Judge, Marvin Mwanamwamba ruled that there was electoral malpractice perpetrated Mr. Phiri during the September 2011 general elections.
Donation of one thousand Kwacha rebased to the Reformed Church in Zambia in the run up to the general elections is among the issues that has resulted in Mr. Phiri losing the seat.
And former Chipata Central Member of Parliament, Lameck Mangani, who dragged Mr. Phiri to court, has expressed happiness with the ruling of the court.
Mr. Mangani told Breeze News that the ruling of the Supreme Court was a lesson to the MMD that it does not pay to cheat during elections.
He also indicated that he would apply to contest the seat under PF, the Patriotic Front Party despite his ailing relationship with the ruling party.
Meanwhile Mr. Phiri has accepted the decision by the Supreme Court to nullify his election at Member of Parliament for Chipata Central Constituency.
Mr. Phiri has however, denied any wrongdoing, stating that his campaigns for the Chipata Central Constituency seat was done transparently.