UPND witness tells court he would’ve still voted NRPUP even without receiving K50

The Ndola High Court premises turned into a center of intense political and legal scrutiny this week as the election petition regarding the Kabushi Constituency parliamentary seat continued to unfold. The high-stakes legal battle, which has gripped residents across the Copperbelt Province, saw testimonies from various witnesses shedding light on the events surrounding the recent polls. Among the notable moments of the proceedings was a statement from a witness who maintained under cross-examination that their electoral choice was genuine and that they would have cast their ballot for the National Reconciliation Party for Unity and Prosperity (NRPUP) candidate, Tillas Titus Sichinga, even in the absence of any monetary or material incentives, such as the widely discussed K50 note allegations brought before the bench. Legal counsels for both the petitioners and the respondents have been meticulously probing witnesses to substantiate or dismantle claims of electoral malpractices, including allegations of voter inducement, premature campaigning, and logistical disputes at polling stations. While petitioners have brought forward individuals claiming various irregularities during the voting exercise, defense teams have consistently challenged the credibility and evidentiary weight of these assertions. Observers at the court noted that several witnesses struggled to produce tangible evidence to back up claims of bribery, opening up robust legal arguments concerning the standard of proof required in high-profile election petitions under Zambian electoral law. The Kabushi seat petition has reignited broader national conversations regarding the integrity of local electoral processes and the vigilance of political parties on the Copperbelt. Electoral petitions serve as a vital mechanism within Zambia's democratic framework, allowing aggrieved parties to seek legal redress and ensure accountability. However, legal experts point out that the threshold for nullifying an electio