Glitches delay BNF symbol case
Isaiah Morewagae | Wednesday May 7, 2014 10:54
On Wednesday, lawyers on both sides wanted to continue with the case, but could not as it was not set down for hearing on the day.
Attorney Mboki Chilisa, appearing for the BNF leadership and president Duma Boko, told Justice Godfrey Nthomiwa that the case was initially set down for hearing on April 18 but had been adjourned as the judge had taken emergency leave.
“After that we got hold of the Clerk of Court to discuss suitable dates and hence we settled for 30 April which is today.
We do not know why it was not set down,” Chilisa said.
Chilisa then proposed set down for the following week which opposing attorney, Gabriel Kanjabanga, objected to arguing that he would be out of the country during that week.
After a heated debate, necessitating the judge’s intervention, both parties settled for May 14 for arguments.
The case before the court is that the BNF leadership wants Nthomiwa to rescind his order barring them from using the BNF symbol in the Umbrella for Democratic Change (UDC) party.
Late last month Nthomiwa ruled against the BNF in the case, which was brought by Moses Kajane and Kitso Koister.
The move gave the BNF leadership sleepless nights as it rendered their wish to have their symbol represented in the UDC unattainable, even as the general elections approach.