By DELPHINE ZULU –
THE four petitioners in the Presidential eligibility case have filed an application in the Constitutional Court asking it to increase the number of Judges from the current five to seven (full bench) due to the significance constitutional issues.
The opposition leaders in an affidavit signed by Robert Mwanza leader of Citizen Democratic Party leader, stated that they were of the view that all the existing Judges must have a say in the matter at hand so that the full potential of the court is utilised.
This is a matter where Rev Daniel Pule of Christian Democratic Party, Zambia Republican Party leader Wright Musoma, Peter Chanda of the New Congress Party and Citizen Democratic Party leader Robert Mwanza sued the Attorney General over the tenure of office and eligibility of President Lungu in 2021.
“There are presently seven Constitutional Court Judges and it was desirable according to the petitioners for all of them to form part of the bench in the proceedings and say something in order to utilise their full potential, resources and reach a conclusive end,” they said.
Going by the originality of this case, the petitioners insisted that there was need to have all the available Constitutional Court Judges be joined and study the matter together with others for the benefit of the nation.
Mr Mwanza prayed that the application be granted, especially if there were no justifiable reasons why it should not be granted.
He said there would be no prejudice that would be suffered by any party if the full bench of the court was to be constituted.
The matter is coming up tomorrow for hearing.