Zambia’ Matero Member of Parliament from the Patriotic Front, and Pan African Parliament (PAP) Committee and Public Accounts (CAPA) Committee Chairman, Miles Sampa, who has developed cold feet in the face of imminent defeat by Chief Fortune Charumbira for the presidency of the continental lawmaking body, has approached the High Court of South Africa, through a proxy, Christain Greeff, to stop the Extra Ordinary session of the sixth parliament of the Pan African Parliament scheduled to take place from 20th to the 27th of March 2024.
In papers served to Lindiwe Khumalo, the Clerk of the PAP, cited as the first respondent, Greef is interdicting Khumalo from proceeding with the Extra Ordinary session of the sixth parliament of the Pan African Parliament scheduled to take place from the 20th to the 27th of March 2024.
Alternatively, Greeff wants the Court to direct the first applicant to conduct the Extraordinary Session of the Sixth Parliament of the Pan-African Parliament scheduled to take place from the 20th to the 27th of March 2024 in accordance with the Protocol and the Rules of the Pan-African Parliament.
The Court is implored to direct the second Respondent, Pemmy Majodina to hold the Southern Region Caucus meeting to nominate a presidential candidate for the Pan-African Parliament before the elections of the Southern Region presidential candidate.
“TAKE FURTHER NOTICE THAT the affidavit of CHRISTIAN GREEFF, confirmatory affidavits together with annexures annexed hereto will be used in support of this application.
“BE PLEASED TO TAKE NOTICE FURTHER that if you intend to oppose this application, you are required to:
(a) Notify the Applicant’s attorney, in writing, by 19 March 2024 at 14H00.
(b) And further that deliver your Answering Affidavit by 19 March 2024 at 19H00.
(c) And the Applicant shall deliver his Replying Affidavit by 20 March 2024 at 08h00.
(d) And further you are required to appoint in such notification an address referred to in at which you will accept notice and service of all documents, in these proceedings,” read a part of the Court application.
In an interview, Chief Fortune Charumbira said he is optimistic about retaining the Presidency of the Pan African Parliament so that he will go ahead with reforms initiated in 2022 when he became the leader of the continental legislative body.
In January 2024, Dr. Ashebir W. Gayo, who imposed himself as Acting President of the Pan African Parliament when Chief Charumbira and the Zimbabwean delegation to the PAP had gone for elections, working with his erstwhile Comrade, Hon Sampa, made futile attempts to cause by-elections at the PAP.
During the 44th Ordinary Session of the Executive Council of the African Union held from 14 to 15 February 2024 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, the AUC Chairperson gave a directive that stopped Hon. Gayo’s plan to hold a manipulated election on 28 February 2024 and also tasked the PAP to hold by-elections before the end of March 2024.
By the time of going to print, Hon Sampa and Hon Gayo were not reachable on their mobile phones.
