Mwandi petition: ex-magistrate Humphrey Sifali tells court he took part in bribing voters, yet still backs MP Iris Kaingu

A former Mwandi Local Court magistrate has told the High Court in Mongu that he was involved in bribing voters during the August election, but that he has no evidence Independent MP Iris Kaingu told him to do it, and that he still supports her. Humphrey Sifali, 41, gave the evidence on Wednesday 21 October in the petition filed by losing UPND candidate Sibeso Sefulo, who wants Ms Kaingu's election nullified for bribery and corrupt practices. Ms Kaingu won the Mwandi seat on 13 August with 6,595 votes against Ms Sefulo's 6,110, a margin of 485 votes. The petition says Ms Kaingu's agents bribed and unduly influenced voters with her knowledge and approval. It is being heard by Judge Willie Sinyangwe. Ms Kaingu is represented by lawyers including Isaac Simbeye, Ms Sefulo by Chimanga Mbulo and Mulenga Mwango of MAK Partners, and the Electoral Commission of Zambia by Silas Mambwe and Amos Siwila. Mr Sifali said Ms Kaingu's father, Michael Kaingu, invited him to join the campaign team and gave him K1,000. He said he reminded Mr Kaingu about a K1,000 donation to the Resurrection UCZ Choir, which was later sent, but denied instructing the payment. He is on police bond in an assault case and denied that he was testifying to get that case withdrawn. Under cross-examination by Mr Simbeye he denied that he had been dismissed from the Judiciary for corrupt practices. When asked whether anything had changed in his support for Ms Kaingu, he said, "No, I am still her supporter." Three more witnesses followed. Kashweka Lisulo, 43, the UPND youth chairperson in Mutuwapafa Village, said he voted for Ms Kaingu because she gave K1,000 towards the wedding of a ward chairlady's son, and he denied that this was corruption. Regina Likando, 49, the UPND chairlady for Lutaba Ward, said she saw Ms Kaingu's agent Mapulanga Kanyemvu handing out money to people in the queue at Namuzungu Polling Station on 13 August. She said she took money and spent it, and did not report it to the police. The