Patriotic Front Secretary General Morgan Ng’ona Seeks Constitutional Court Ruling on Matero Parliamentary Seat Vacancy
Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary General Morgan Ng’ona has petitioned the Constitutional Court to compel the National Assembly to declare the Matero parliamentary seat, currently held by Miles Sampa, vacant. Ng’ona's petition urges the Court to order the immediate notification of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) regarding the vacancy.
The petition highlights that the National Assembly's failure to declare the seat vacant constitutes a violation of Article 72(1) of the Constitution of Zambia. Ng’ona argues that the seat should be declared vacant following Sampa's expulsion from the Patriotic Front, the party that facilitated his entry into the National Assembly.
In the petition, Ng’ona names the Attorney General and the National Assembly as the first and second respondents, respectively. He contends that the Central Committee of the Patriotic Front, in a meeting held on July 3, 2024, at Mass View Lodge in Lusaka, resolved to expel Miles Sampa from the party. Ng'ona claims that this resolution was formally communicated to the office of the Speaker of the National Assembly on July 3 and 4, 2024.
Despite these notifications, Ng’ona argues that no action has been taken by the National Assembly to declare the Matero parliamentary seat vacant. He further asserts that his subsequent notification, sent on November 11, 2024, also failed to elicit any action from the National Assembly.
Ng’ona’s petition underscores that the National Assembly's inaction is a breach of constitutional obligations, particularly Article 72(1)(e) of the Constitution of Zambia, which was amended by Act No. 2 of 2016.
The petitioner is seeking a Constitutional Court ruling that would require the National Assembly to immediately declare the seat vacant and notify the Electoral Commission of Zambia for appropriate by-election procedures.
Keywords: Patriotic Front, Morgan Ng'ona, Constitutional Court, Matero parliamentary seat, Miles Sampa, National Assembly, Electoral Commission of Zambia, seat vacancy, constitutional breach, Article 72(1), Zambia 2024.