Attorney General Frank Mbeta has joined as an interested party a case in which Speaker of Parliament Sameer Suleman is challenging an injunction obtained by a local citizen, Austin Mkoka, against the formation of 12 parliamentary committees tasked with probing the operations of several statutory bodies.
The Attorney General was initially expected to represent the Speaker in the matter. However, as of Wednesday, there had been no commitment from the government’s lawyers to join the case.
During a virtual hearing on Thursday, High Court Judge Allan Muhome informed the parties that Mbeta had applied on Wednesday to join the matter as an interested party.
Lawyer Bright Theu, representing the Speaker, expressed surprise at Mbeta’s application, describing him as a “stranger” to the proceedings since no documents had previously indicated that he would be joining the case.
Another lawyer, Chikosa Silungwe, also urged the court to ensure that proper procedures and timelines for filing court documents were followed.
Mbeta has asked the court for 10 days to file his documents, while Mkoka’s lawyer, Noel Supedi, said his client would require at least seven days to respond to the Attorney General’s filings.
The court has since adjourned the matter to November 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
The Attorney General was initially expected to represent the Speaker in the matter. However, as of Wednesday, there had been no commitment from the government’s lawyers to join the case.
During a virtual hearing on Thursday, High Court Judge Allan Muhome informed the parties that Mbeta had applied on Wednesday to join the matter as an interested party.
Lawyer Bright Theu, representing the Speaker, expressed surprise at Mbeta’s application, describing him as a “stranger” to the proceedings since no documents had previously indicated that he would be joining the case.
Another lawyer, Chikosa Silungwe, also urged the court to ensure that proper procedures and timelines for filing court documents were followed.
Mbeta has asked the court for 10 days to file his documents, while Mkoka’s lawyer, Noel Supedi, said his client would require at least seven days to respond to the Attorney General’s filings.
The court has since adjourned the matter to November 5, 2026, for further proceedings.
