By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
THE CONSTITUTIONAL Court (ConCourt) has ruled that the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) is compelled by law to hold elections within the 90 days stipulated in Article 57 of the Constitution immediately it receives notification of a vacancy.
A panel of five Constitutional Judges ruled that the law did not contemplate any other process being undertaken during the 90 days or permit the process to undermine the constitutional time limits.
Constitutional Court President, Professor Margaret Munalula, sitting judges Judy Mulongoti, Arnold Mwangenga, Maria Kawimbe and Kenneth Mulife said in a judgement delivered on Wednesday that ECZ was obliged to follow provisions of the Constitution once a vacancy was declared.