The Lusaka High Court has dismissed a case filed by seven Patriotic Front (PF) presidential aspirants against PF party president Miles Sampa and party secretary general Morgan Ng'ona. Judge Vincent Siloka threw out the appeal, citing a multiplicity of acti

Mutotwe Kafwaya and six others had appealed to the High Court to challenge Miles Sampa's presidency, which was announced on October 24, 2023, at an extraordinary PF conference in Lusaka. Sampa subsequently appointed Ng'ona as PF secretary general. Dissatisfied with the developments, Kafwaya and the other PF presidential candidates filed a petition against Sampa and Ng'ona.

The other petitioners include Chitalu Chilufya, Godfrey Mwamba, Emmanuel Mwamba, Chishimba Kambwili, Brian Mundubile, and Greyford Monde. They sought the court's declaration that the October 24, 2023, extraordinary conference that elected Sampa was unlawful, as was Ng'ona's appointment as secretary general. They also sought a declaration that Sampa's presidency was unlawful and that all decisions made by him and Ng'ona be set aside.

However, Judge Siloka found that the petitioners were seeking the same relief in both the High Court and the Supreme Court, amounting to a multiplicity of actions. He ruled, "It amounts to a multiplicity of actions...This application is dismissed pursuant to Order 14A(2) for multiplicity of actions. The action is dismissed with costs. Leave to appeal is granted."

The PF party has indicated its intention to appeal the court's decision.