Msigwa’s poll victory challenged in court

Iringa/Njombe. CCMparliamentary candidate for Iringa Urban, Mr Frederick Mwakalebela, has challenged the victory of the Reverend Peter Msigwa in court.

The Deputy Registrar of the Iringa High Court Zone, Ms Ruth Massama, said the case was officially opened in the court on October 30.

In the case, Mr Mwakalebela accuses MP-elect Reverend Msigwa and the Iringa Urban returning officer of breaching the rules and regulations governing the election.

He accuses the first respondent of campaigning on the voting day by wearing a cap with the M4C logo, a victory sign used by Chadema.

He also accuses the Iringa Urban returning officer of starting vote counting with the first accused person in the case and his agents without notifying or involving him (Mwakalebela).

In the third claim, the litigant complains of what he called being denied entry to a polling station on Dabodabo Street at Ilala Ward while his Chadema rival was allowed in without any obstacle.

Mr Mwakalebela attached the claims with his letter of October 25, this year, which he sent to the returning officer in which he objected the announcement of the results. He gave five reasons that compelled him to do so including failure by the returning officer and his assistants to make decisions over his claims. The deputy registrar said the complainant was now required to notify the respondent and place a notice on the notice board for 14 days so the court could give clarification.

Meanwhile, Chadema in Njombe Region has said it is finalising legal procedures to appeal against poll results for Njombe South and Makambako constituencies.

This was said by the Chadema secretary in Njombe Region, Alatanga Nyagawa, when he was speaking to The Citizen.

Nyagawasaid the move comes after he was not satisfied with the whole process of the election in the constituencies, claiming there was sabotage by their rivals who made them fail to win.

“This is not to say that we were not ruined in other areas but in the constituencies of Njombe Urban (Njombe South) and Makambako we aim to appeal in court as we have been ruined in day broad light,” Nyagawa said.

“Our Chadema lawyers and our aspirants for the constituencies are preparing documents and after a few days we will go to court and it is our hopes that re-elections will be conducted, ”Nyagawa added.