Court Adjourns Case In Which 54 UPND MPs Sued Speaker For Reprimanding Them

HEARING in the matter where 54 UPND members of parliament have challenged Speaker Patrick Matibini’s decision to reprimand them for boycotting official opening of Parliament last September could not take place today because the state was not ready.

The 54 UPND members of parliament have applied for leave to commence judicial review proceedings against Speaker Matibini’s decision and wanted the court to stay the decision of the Speaker until the matter is determined.

High Court judge Susan Wanjelani did not grant the ex-parte order for stay of Dr Matibini’s decision but instead set March 24 for inter-partes hearing.

When the matter came up for hearing, the applicants, through lawyer Keith Mweemba, said they were ready to proceed but the state sought an adjournment because it was not prepared.

The state submitted that documents served on them indicated that the matter was coming up for ex-parte hearing, so they needed time to seek instructions from their clients.

Judge Wanjelani gave the state a benefit of the doubt based on the reasons advanced.

She said considering that the application was of urgent nature, she adjourned the matter to April 6.

According to an affidavit in support of ex-parte summons for leave to apply for judicial review, UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka stated that the ruling by the Speaker was irregular, illegal and unreasonable.