Politics
Zambia high court: Opposition party, MMD, will not be dissolved over unpaid fees
A High Court in Zambia on Tuesday overturned the dissolution of the former ruling party over unpaid fees, arguing the move had been excessive and against the country’s general interest.
The Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD), whose 20-year rule came to an end in September, was dissolved by the chief registrar of societies in March for owing 390 million kwacha (US$75,876) in registration fees dating back to 1993.
It also faced being stripped of its parliamentary seats.
“The said hereby deregistration is quashed as it was excessive and unwarranted,” said High Court Judge Jane Kabuka.
Kabuka argued chief registrar Clement Andeleki could have simply fined the party for failing to pay its annual fees.
“I find the cancellation of the MMD disproportionate, it could not have been taken in good faith and this is a mutilation of the tenets of democracy,” she told the court.
“The decision was not in the public interest as the MMD is one of the big parties in this country,” she added.
