The Constitutional Court has ruled that Ministers and their Deputies are in office illegally following the dissolution of Parliament.
The Ministers and their Deputies have been ordered to pay back all the salaries and other allowances they illegally accrued.
The Constitutional Court delivered the land mark ruling shortly adding that President Edgar Lungu was wrong to maintain the Ministers in office after the dissolution of Parliament.
The court has further ruled that the PF ministers must vacate office with immediate effect and must repay back all the monies such as allowances and salaries they have been getting since Parliament was dissolved.
In June, the Constitutional Court has refused to grant the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) an interlocutory injunction restraining Cabinet ministers and deputy ministers from continuing in office and receiving their emoluments.
In this case, LAZ had petitioned the Constitutional Court to declare that continued stay of ministers and deputy ministers in office after dissolution of Parliament is illegal and that they should pay back any monies they will be paid as a result.
The association had applied for an interim relief restraining the ministers from holding themselves as such or purporting to occupy the said offices.
And commenting on the latest ruling, UPND President Hakainde Hichilema said it is gratifying to note that the Constitutional court has ruled that the PF Ministers have been holding onto public offices illegally.
In a statement, Mr Hichilema said the action by the Ministers and their Deputies amounts to day light robbery by an outgoing government from the People.
Below is Mr Hichilema’s full statement
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
THE NEWS EDITOR
08/08/2016.
PF MINISTERS MUST PAY BACK WITHOUT FAIL.
It is gratifying to note that the Constitutional court has ruled that the PF Ministers have been holding onto public offices illegally.
However, we can only describe such an act by PF as day light robbery by an outgoing government from the People.
In the first place, we advised that it was illegal for any PF Minister to remain abusing public resources when the constitution does not allow to do so but as usual they declined.
We can only further describe such corrupt conduct by President Edgar Lungu and his ministers as theft.
In line with that, we demand that all the PF Ministers pay back what they have accumulated over their illegal stay in office with immediate effect and as ruled by constitutional court.
We have always been advising on cutting excessive government expenditures in order to channel resources to other needy sectors but President Edgar Lungu and his PF have been not so, a true reflection of a greedy Leadership.
This ruling however, also sends a signal that President Lungu and his ministers have no interest in serving Zambians but himself.
However, we would like to state that if they do not pay as ruled by the court, once in government we will ensure that they pay back because that is tax payers money.
We also call on the Zambians to vote out President Edgar Lungu and his ministers for stealing in day light.
We also want to reaffirm our commitment towards cutting down government expenditures once in government because by so doing needy sectors will be chartered for.
Our government, by God’s grace and courtesy of the People of Zambia, will focus on lowering the cost of living, creating better jobs, quality education and health among others.
This will be done through our vision for our Country which is a united, prosperous and equitable Zambia.
Hakainde Hichilema
UPND PRESIDENT
Hahahaha! In your face Lungu!
Very soon the constitutional court will ask Lungu to leave office
Lawyers would not want to jeopardize their profession. They just need to bring justice and that is what is necessary. PF cadres like ka senior citizen will cry foul over this one.
CONSTITUTIONAL COURT HAS JUST RULED THAT LUNGU’S MINISTERS ARE IN OFFICE ILLEGALLY!!!
START EFFECTING CITIZENS ARRESTS ASAP!! IMPOUND ALL GOVT VEHICLES THAT THESE THIEVES ARE DRIVING!! WE SAID IT A LONG TIME AGO THAT THEY WERE COMMITTING DAYLIGHT ROBBERY FROM OUR COFFERS!!
BY FRIDAY, WE SHOULD START DELIVERING THESE THIEVES TO THE NEAREST POLICE STATIONS!! LET THEM SPEND THE WEEKEND IN CELLS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
VOTE WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE ZAMBIA FORWARD!! VOTE UPND!!
#chagwamustfall!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!
I thank you!!
So we still have credible lawyers we can bank on in this corrupt Lungu regime who can stand up for nothing but the truth? Its amazing indeed. I always thought the entire system is rotten.
But PF also new they were in Office illegally but is has become so difficult to reason amidist poverty for campaign money…AL PF sober minds, except Kambwili and his drunk President ECL knew that what they were doing was illegal…
The court is full of UPND cadres and sympathizers. This is not a surprise
This is coming too late, just after proving that PF ministers did absolutely nothing to help Edgar Lungu, dispite all government resources on their disposal. The only ministers who tried their best, I mean all their best are:
– Ba Chikwanda who made sure all PF campaign cars had enough cash to buy abena JK mosi.
– Kambwili that he made sure there were limited live coverage of sensational HH & GBM, Nevers Mumba campaigns. And nothing for Nawakwi.
– Dora Siliya for fueling up all cadres trucks.
All the rest need pay back their salaries.
Just give them clear passage.
PAY BACK THE MONEY….WITH INTEREST
Very right Mary. Especially after that ka landmark ruling by SA ConCourt against Jacob Zuma. Our judges realise the importance of preserving their integrity.
And what happens to the ‘chap’ who facilitated their Illegal stay in office?He too should pay back after Thursday.
And we have a lawyer as president, I have always asked what type of a lawyer is EL and these minister should have been sent to prison for a few days for robbing the public.
THIS IS A VOTE OF NO CONFIDENCE IN LUNGU AND THE PF GOVERNMENT. PEOPLE OF ZAMBIA VOTE WISELY, YOU HAVE BEEN GUIDED.
this shows that lungu lacks understanding of the constitution how each clause is interdependent on another,his reasons was HANDING OVER,lungu is not fit to be our president.pf cadres called learned lawyers bitter.i hope now majority of pf cadres can learn how to debate intelligently though i doubt as mumbi phiri stated that pf is a party of kaponyas.
”Our Current ministers are drawn from Parliament and therefore when parliament dissolves they cannot continue to be ministers. Even the dullest of them all, Chishimba Kambwili, surely must have understood this.”
Sign of things to come, pf the record you are leaving behind is a shameful one. Now we are counting minutes for the ministers to start paying back illegally earned salaries and allowances. The more reason the referendum should b e rejected PF has never meant well for this country and its people.
The ruling party through Doc Kambwili has accused the opposition UPND of sponsoring the judges to rule against the ministers. He has gone ahead and warned the judges to desist from such rulings or else he will be left with no option but to close the constitutional court . He has even called on ZRA to audit the courts books of any outstanding taxes or any possible tax evasion.
Lungu is a looser…actually aka ni kadiokoo….the big disappointment is coming after 11th August.
CHAGWA MUST FALL!!!!!!!!
This was an urgent issue why did they take so long? I doubt if these PF ministers will re-pay the money. Lungu does not believe in the rule of law, he will disregard the order.
Wrungu is a failed lawyer and a failed president,everything has failed him the only place he can succeed is in shambles of Chawama bars. VOTE UPND VOTE HH
Lungu’s sh¡t has finally hit the fan! Of all incompetents and thieves, it was a matter of time before he was unmasked and the whole world knew him for what he is. Chakolwa has destroyed Zambia. Zambia is now truly a failed state where its destruction is planned at State House. Chakolwa is unfit to be President.
Double Standards – SURPRISING that HH can say the money the ministers got is ‘TAX PAYERS’ money BUT says that the POST Should not be persecuted for TAX they owe Govt and the people of Zambia. I am failing to reconcile the two. Is it only the Tax payers’ money when it is owed by PF ministers and not when it is owed by POST? Ndeloleshafye.
Saluting the Constitutional Court for this great move. It gives us hope that there are still patriotic Zambians who have the courage to stand up to greedy, self serving bunch of crooked politicians who care about nobody but themselves. CC, please know that the Zambian people have your back. Hopefully, many more Zambians will wake up and begin to stand up to corruption. If we continue to allow crooked people to be getting away with corrupt actions like these, we’ll never develop, will be stuck in the same spot, and continue to be a mediocre country bordering on a failed state status. We need people in offices who care about the country more than they care about their party affiliation and personal ambitions. These people are put in offices as public servants to serve the people. But,…
(Continued)… apparently, they don’t seem to be doing so, and are busy lining their large pockets with tax payers’ money. And obviously they knew that what they were doing is constitutionally illegal—thus they need to be slapped with criminal charges too. We will not continue to be docile, and let criminal minded people take advantage of our resources. No one should be above the law, if we are serious about our country being a country based on the rule of law. And yet these guys want to trample the constitution underfoot with impunity, hoping no one will protest, or hold them accountable. Can you imagine giving this administration another five years? You would have to be extremely gullible to think that they would suddenly get better and begin to care about the country. No sir…
(Continued)… What you see now will only get worse. So the solution is to vote them out of office, starting with ECL.
Muvi TV has just shown a clip on the main news of PF militia attacking the Beautiful UPND campaign bus in Mutendere. They have damaged it completely and injured several UPND supporters. I can’t believe this is happening in mother Zambia. I am totally disgusted. I have never witnesses this form of barbarism in the name of politics. Yes, it happens in other countries like Zimbabwe, Uganda and Kenya but should never be allowed to continue in Zambia. It’s definitely time to vote PF out and save our country from degenerating into civil strife. The PF leadership of President EDGAR LUNGU has failed Zambia. Ironically, this PF violence is never reported on ZNBC. This is a big SHAME! PF must pack and go on Thursday, PERIOD!
DIASPORANS, time to ring back home speak with all your relatives – if they had any doubts ABOUT PamaFI, just DIRECT THEM TO THE CONSTITUTIONAL COURT RULING!!! NEXT 48 HRS, PHONE ALL YOUR KITH & KIN – TELL THEM IT IS TIME WE BOOTED OUT PamaFI!!
Vote WISELY 11/8/2016!! VOTE ZAMBIA FORWARD!!! VOTE UPND!!!
“OPERATION WATER MELON!!! Aka GREENY na Aka REDDY!!!”
#MURDERERCHAGWAMUSTFALL!! #PamaFikuyabebele!!!
I thank you!!
The Mutembo Nchito Tribunal also opperated illegally. The judges who sat on this illegal tribunal should also pay back whatever they got. Their recomandations are also null and void.
is this ruling from Hakainde Hichilema or the courts of law? HH abilima sana ninshi
Hahaha under5 abensa Kwati eupingwile. Ecl is on record saying conscourt should give a guidance on this issue and the outcome does not surprise the president because he wanted speculations to be spelt out lawfully unlike what under5 and his stooges were illegally impounding grz properties.
THIS KA BUSH LAWYER CALLED lUNGU MUST PAY.WHAT EXPERIENCE DOES LUNGU HAVE.HE IS JUST A CHIPANTEPANTE PRESIDENT THATS WHY WE ARE SUFFERING AL ABENA KOPALA KICK THIS GUY OUT OF STATE HOUSE.TULECHULA KENA KAIBA.FIBAKABOLALA.
In countries where there’s decency and rule of law, Lungu would have tendered in his resignation. But because ours is a country that glorifies corruption, incompetence, lawlessness, mediocrity, Lungu will get away with it. I even doubt these illegal ministers will pay back what they have stolen
Or immediate steps taken to impeach the drunken one.
Thanks to the Constitutional Court which President Lungu set up a few months ago, we now have chancers like Hakainde Hichilema Hap Hazard Chintombwa (HH) seeking cheap political mileage.
Is he not the one who objected the non-contentious clauses which our Excellency signed into Law?
You see how cheap this crooked Charlatan is?
Kudos to the Constitutional Court for your autonomy, legal know how, professionalism and independence. Kudos President Lungu. We will vote overwhelmingly for you this Thursday.
In the face of adversity, you have seen our bold President sign progressive laws which Wynter hid in the office. Fellow Zambians, development begins with the Rule of Law.
So when we tell you to vote YES in the Referendum, such are the issues we want to be resolved by the correct institutions, through correct process without undue influence from ruling party officials and cadres.
Have you seen how quickly Kalusa Hakainde Chintombwa has jumped to condemn the Ministers? Don’t follow such mean spirited selfish people blindly.
This professional work exhibited by the Constitutional Court today is the reason we say only President Lungu has been appointed on earth to rule Zambia for the next 5 years.
This Thursday we vote for progress and the rule of law. Vote PF and Edgar Chagwa…
Kudos mulekwatako insoni…..namakwenkwe wakantu.
Zambia marches forward!!!
So since the court says they should vacate and pay back, who are we to refuse comrades?
You now see why President Lungu is confident about winning the elections? It’s because we the people have confidence in him.
The other camp has an A4 sheet of paper called 10 point plan.
Politics is not for infants like Kalusa Chintombwa.
You UPND sycophants should be congratulating President Lungu and kneeling down and bowing to praise him for setting up independent institutions whose duty it is to serve us Zambians.
Why were you insulting the President when he appointed the office bearers of the Constitutional Court?
You don’t appreciate anything. This is why we conclude that Kaponya (HH) and UPND are awlays on the wrong side of history.
@KUDOS TAKE SHEET SAME WERE DO YOU THAT ITS MY TAXE THAT LUNGU AND HIS MINISTERS ARE STEALING.FUKI YU KUDOS.ULEMONA KWATI KWANGALA WE ARE ANOID.THE PF GOVERNMENT CUTS 5THOUSAND KWACHA FROM MY PAY.I CAN SHOOT KUDOS IF I KNEW YOU.
Dude you must have issues in your head. How on earth would you praise Lungu with eggs in his face. His judgment has been laid bare and thrown into question by this ruling. Simply put Lungu and his minions have violated the constitution they were sworn to uphold… they can actually be sued and they deserve to go to jail. A lawyer like Lungu failing to interpret a straightforward clause even with all his legal advisers around him. Violating a constitution is a more serious crime than even that allegedly committed by The Post newspapers, that of suspected tax evasion. So if I were you I would go away for a while and hide instead of trying to praise a constitution breaker in Lungu.
Kitwe kudos, you now have to fill the all site with your responses, next is your job which you do not deserve. Many civil servants spend years to attain directorship which you got via nepotism.
YOU CAN SAY WHATEVER YOU WANT TO SAY, BUT THE TRUTH IS THAT PF GOVT HAS ABSOLUTELY WRECKED THE ECONOMY – STARTING FROM THE TOP MOST MAN IN THE JOB. HE HIMSELF HAS NO REGARD TO THE COMMON PERSON SUFFERING IN MY VILLAGE AND OTHER VILLAGES IN OTHER PARTS OF OUR COUNTRY. THIS DAYLIGHT ROBBERY TO ZAMBIA’S RESOURCES BY THE PF MINISTERS EXPLAINS WHY THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF HAS LEFT SO MANY ZAMBIANS WONDERING WHERE THE MONIES HAVE COME FROM TO MAKE HIM SO RICH WITHIN 18 MONTHS HE HAS BEEN THE PRESIDENT. WHY SHOULD I VOTE FOR PF – PROVEN PF STEALING IN DAY LIGHT FROM THE POOR. VOTE THEM OUT AND MAKE THEM PAY BACK.
And the biased PF people must have nothing to say now.The problem with most PF supporters is they support wrong things.This is a democracy and you are free to choose any leader you want.However,this is not supposed to be at the expense of moral values, and the rule of law.#payback the money!
At least it proves that the Courts are free and are not manipulated. Imagine what HH would have said had it gone the other way. In the law there are always two sides. That is why there is a Petitioner & Respondent etc. Then there is also the Judge who is a referee. There CARTEL is no longer there to harass judges. I wonder in which Camp they are now!
too little, too late.
Mr Kudos…. you are indeed a twat!
Sorry HH, PF is winning the elections. You, HH and GBM are the biggest thieves, your so called wealth was stollen from zambians through white collar stealing and you know it, deep down in your hearts. We have already decided to vote PF back into office.
pf WILL LOSE SIMPLE.THIS TIME ITS HH. HH NI ZEE.DAD MULEWINA.
@ Roy Mwenya
Only 1mbeciles, crooks and criminals will vote for their own kind
not too late. this shows that PF does not regards law and want to enrich themselves by getting what is not theirs but ours. ati govt for the poor. Vote for change and remove public money misusers
“We also want to reaffirm our commitment towards cutting down government expenditures once in government because by so doing needy sectors will be chartered for.”
It is catered for you under 5, not chartered for. Can even spell simple words.
Rushing to condemn some ones writing when you cant distinguish cant and can…..”can even spell simple word”
And you can’t even spell simple words. I bet you meant to say ‘can’t’ not ‘can’. You see what happens when you choose to become the Internet English language cop or police… make sure you are really trained and competent yourself.
@twende, please do not say CANT…
Lungu is gone, gone, gone!!!
YES, GONE BACK TO STATE HOUSE.
Ninshi there is another state house in Chawama because that’s where your Chakolwa Kaloba Wrungu is going.
How can this ruling come up now. The mess has already been done.
How can they pay back what has already been spent on green chitenge, black hoodies, t-shirts, and jumpsuits?
Just the other day we heard Chikwanda claim he was using “his own money” to finance the PF’s campaign so let’s see how sincere he really was.
The Zambia Judicial System is at all times confusing! Is it not this same court that interpreted the new constitution that Lungu was right to keep the Ministers in place and they quoted some articles in the New Constitution and now this…??
…or I am lost?What happens with this? Is there appeal or no appeal with rulings from the Constitutional court? If there are appeals then this will just be the beginning of issues as it may drag even after elections!
We are now seeing the true separation of powers? Courts are able to operate independently. If the courts makes the decision that does not favour you dont say the courts are incompetent and dances to the tune of the executive. bravo to the new constitution.
@Richard, and therein lies the problem. Anybody who can think beyond their nose can see that this court is just setting up the stage for favoring the incumbent if Thursday ‘s election gets contested in court. The ministers used state resources to campaign for the last 3 months and are now at the 11th hour they are either being sacrificed or they have been promised assistance in paying back what they owe. But the bigger picture here is that when the constitutional court rules in favour of “someone” after next week’s election, none of us will be able to stand up and say “this court is bias” becoz today they have hoodwinked us into thinking they aren’t biased.
We now see how politicians get self centered. Why didnt ba Lungu take a golden opportunity to save our coffers? Instead he chose to continue spending on salaries of ministers. Ba Lungu doesnt mean well for poor Zambians.
TOO LATE. THEY VACATE TODAY AND TOMORROW THEY WILL BE BACK INTO THOSE OFFICES. BUT HEECL MUST ENSURE THAT THEY PAY BACK EVEN IF THEY ARE APPOINTED AS MINISTERS.
BAFIKALA TA BAKABWELELE WE SHALL VOTE THEM OUT.
We hope the Police will move in at the same supersonic speed they did when they closed the post news paper with ruling for ZRA.
Now this is the President who does not uphold the constitution which he promised to uphold with the bible in his hands.
Where is Chanda to comment on this ruling.They have stolen our money.Zambians it is good that the decision has been made two days before voting so that we vote out these thief’s wearing suits.
What a shame! Waiting to hear reactions from the office bearers especially the Chief Government spokesperson. I wish the ruling was passed a few weeks after dissolution of parliament.t
Today once more am wearing the UPND baseball cap and roving streets of Lusaka.
The response from joe bloggs or the so called man on the minibus is one of.awe and relief. As they salute and urge me on, I see the hailstorm that awaits Lungu PF this Thursday.
Oh look when they are delivering the ruling, just 3 days before the elections. It’s not just what they stole and plundered, it is the unfair advantage they enjoyed during the elections campaign due to incumbency… how do you take that away? What took them so long to come up with a ruling? They are delivering the ruling on the eve of the elections.
In other progressive countries this ruling would have been a game changer in this election. Voters would have sent these crooks straight to jail and Lungu would have tendered in his resignation. He was advised by none other than the learned LAZ and he is supposedly a lawyer, albeit a dumb one.
He is a crook
And Lungu wants another mandate.
This was just a test bane……..its not over yet.
Remember, the man said “I am ready to turn draconian…” so don`t cerebrate the Constitutional Court ruling yet, its premature.
With “draconian” law, no Constitutional Court ruling is valid. Watch out. You will know after Friday whether PF ministers will pay back or NOT. If PF wins, Forget it. If “draconian” law is instituted, forget it.
Kudos is not even concerned
Lustern to this nincompoop chitombwa aka hh. This is when he is coming to the senses about tax. When everyone was busy telling Fred Mmembe to pay tax the cretin was opposition.
nini YANYOKO HH techilema .kupusa bati.
They will be arrested once UPND forms Govt and we shall have bye-elections. I am seeing PF being obliterated from Zambia’s political landscape.
Why should they be arrested in 2090for crime done in 2016.
ECZ should be professional also. They should not be biased on one knows about tomorrow. ECZ has not acted professionally in this elections.
Where have they been all this time? This ruling should have been made 2 months ago…..
Bale kaka kambwili .He has fallen sick.
Lungu must be impeached!
There’s no parliament to impeach him. Now the people have a chance to get rid of him and his thieving ministers. Chipantepante ba Lungu, I wonder if he even consults!
Correction cont, ECZ has not acted professionally in these coming elections, staring from printing ballot papers in Dubai until voting day they have been very biased.
Well done Zambian courts. I always tell you our courts are good. Zambians just do not want to utilize them. We know which ministers should not be rehired in the case President Lungu returns to state house.
There is nothing wrong Lungu has done.The courts are there to give us guidance. Mmembe should also pay tax period.We go to courts in order to settle the disputes.No one can make a right decision therefore ba UPND wether u like it or not thursday tribal party won’t be anymore.Tulemidununa.
Those who want to vote back Mr. Lungu, have you eyes to see, have you ears to hear? These action by Mr. Lungu is not a mistake, he knew it was wrong, b’coz all along ministers have never stayed in office, why did he decide to stay the ministers? It is because he is a corrupt President, he is a thief, stealing in broad daylight, while majority citizens are suffering, when he is full he will then go to rallies & dance for you who are hungry. If you elect lungu now after what God has revealed to you, when after, you are going to suffer, you will call up to God for help, He will never answer you or help you, b’coz you voted deliberately for him, while you knew that he was a thief. Dear Zambian please wake up & listen to the warning bells.
Lungu is the man I’ve never seen. He is the Mr walk the talk. He’s straight winning no doubt..Viva ECL VIVA PF for life…..
The mistake was made in January 2015. Lungu with a criminal record should never have been allowed to stand for election as President. As they say “Once a thief always a thief”. It is no wonder that within 15 months in office, Lungu stole K23.7 million ( $2.3 million). Not to be outdone the illegal Ministers abused gov’t resources. The outgoing illegal Minister of Finance was busy stealing money from govt coffers to enrich fellow illegal Ministers and his bosses and of course financing the PF campaign and their election rigging schemes. HH’s incoming govt must hold these criminals to account. In the light of this judgement Lungu should resign failing which we will punish him severely thru the Ballot Box. We cannot have a well known thieving President again.
HH should not be so opportunistic like a parasite. This self same HH and the cartel told his MPs not to support the constitution that ushered in the constitutional court. So what is he celebrating when this self same hypocrite is defending the K53 Million tax debt of the post papers? I hope HH and his acolytes will respect the contents of the tribunal report on mutembo nchito. I hope HH will the rejoice with all Zambians with the triumph of people over Mutembo Nchito a cartel operative, corrupt DPP and a surrogate president.
@Mwape: You have put everything so beautifully in perspective. The bible says in Luke 16:10 that “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much”.
No one will ever understand how we Zambians could believe that a man who was so wicked to steal from a WIDOW (a very vulnerable person), could suddenly be so responsible and resist the temptations to steal when the wealth of the country is at his disposal.
As for me i go beyond the out come of the judgement but goes further to analyze the psyche of the judges for them to pass that kind of judgement three days before the voting day. The judges have done the equations and have predicted the out of the results. something here is crumbling. ha! ha! ha!. sorry I am joking.
It is ok. Hazalusa Hagain!
I like HH and UPND. When the court ruled that membe should pay back the money,the court was deemed corrupt.The same court ruled to your intetest ,HH and his supporters praises.What’s wrong with a human being.Let me see the comment from HH and UPND surpoters demand the post and membe to pay back taxes as well.Unfortunately people have already decided whom to vote for.So let’s wait if your manifesto is personal,hope you sold it and if your manifesto and vision is group one,hope you did some good marketing.We have already decided.
HH should not be so opportunistic like a parasite. This self same HH and the cartel told his MPs not to support the constitution that ushered in the constitutional court. So what is he celebrating when this self same hypocrite is defending the K53 Million tax debt of the post papers? I hope HH and his acolytes will respect the contents of the tribunal report on mutembo nchito. I hope HH will the rejoice with all Zambians with the triumph of people over Mutembo Nchito a cartel operative, corrupt DPP and a surrogate president.
USE YOUR OWN PEN WHEN VOTING
USE YOUR OWN PEN
DONT USE ECZ PEN
USE YOUR PEN
Ow my LOL. Such a fabulous time to expose Lungu and his minions. It is a bit late but the timing is impeccable! This gives people a chance to think twice before giving their vote. Regardless of whether you are PF or UPND, its your tax payers money these ministers have been swimming in illegally. It baffles me how most people still want PF even when they have been over exposed yet they opt to wallow in misery for another enduring 5 long years. Why PF supporters? Why? Your relatives are suffering in Solwezi while PF is threatening them to pay K5 before being seen or prescribed medication by a doctor. S.illy PF claims that money goes towards building a toilet which should have been built in the first place. Total abuse of power and authority. Stop abusing vulnerable people.
Dont celebrate yet. For me i see this as something that was way planned. Why has judgement come this late? Its because Lungu has already achieved what he wanted to with his ministers. They have used govt fascilities to campaign.Money they will be paying back is nothing compared to the abuse of govt resources directed towards the campaigns.
This judgement is to paint a picture that the constitutional court is impartial so that in the case that upnd disputes election results they will freely rule in favor of Pf. Wait and see!
You are the man, right on. …….. “draconian” law on the way.
This decision is not for free, nika ndyonko chabe, come on, do you think ECL wants to be embarrassed just like that? Without a fight?
Good ground of appeal or petitions if these illegal ministers win elections they took undue advantage of illegal position or standing which they did not deserve
Something is fishy here.I’m expecting a big court ruling against the opposition in the near future.
Barely 2 weeks ago,ECL’s supreme court ruled in favour of the Mumba camp.Today it’s against the ruling government.They are doing a “Nkandhla ruling” to hoodwink the mases into believing that they are impartial.This is total B.S and Monkey Tricks at play.The TIMING OF THE RULINGS IS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS.
1.The MMD issue was presided over by 3 of Lungu’s newly appointed judges..Mutuna etc.
2.The Constitutional court has Mulega Mungeni who stayed up all night to give an injunction to the ECL camp and had no time in 3 months to hear Miles Sampa in court.
3.It’s common knowledge that Mutuna and Kajimanga were appointed to the Supreme court to cover ECL Ass.
The Zambian Judiciary is rotten to the bone.The opposition should be very CAREFUL.Don’t be excited with monkey tricks
I’m so proud as Zambian to read this ruling because it shows that judiciary is independent as intended in new Constitution. I’m also proud of President Lungu for spearheading the new Constitution which has created the Constitutional Court as the final authority on constitution. Many comments above miss this but this is victory of democracy which President believes in. Very few African Presidents can allow this but yet our President is unique & progressive. I feel I can trust him & the systems now more than the other contenders who are quick to make cheap political mileage. God Bless you President Lungu & continue putting interests of Zambia 1st. God Bless Zambia.
“Very few African Presidents can allow this but yet our President is unique & progressive”.
You can not justify and exhort Lungu because you are “proud of President Lungu for spearheading the new Constitution which has created the Constitutional Court as the final authority on constitution”.
It is the people of Zambia that collectively channelled their collective need for a CC through their representatives. This has nothing to do with Lung. Absolutely nothing. If anything, the CC’s ruling shows that what Lungu did was illegal. An if it was ECL’s idea to spearhead the formation of CC, they just proved him to be a criminal because he broke the law. He arrogated to himself the law of the land. And this is more than enough for the Zambian people need to remove him from office…
@Bapongozi,
You will be surprised, Zambians are peace loving people, even if, you spit in their faces, they will wipe the saliva, and keep smiling and will not retaliate.
So, regardless how serious the issue is, many still worship the incumbent. By the way, they say he was appointed by God, so what is from God is holy and forever.
A lie has very short legs and even a shorter shelf-life! Whom the gods are about to judge (this Thursday), they first make them mad. Leaders with no shame will still desperately be holding on to their ministerial cars and still sit in their offices till Wednesday. We are now voting in leadership with a sense of credibility this Thursday, HH and his winning team, we patiently await your inauguration, by God’s grace. Thank you.
We should not have been in this position if we had a President who believes in rule of Law. If the President cannot understand what is in the Constitution, what is he sworn to uphold then? In a decent democracy, he should have resigned. He was wrong to defend illegality in the first place.
@My name is: You are in my view, the only one to ask the real and only question that needs to be asked and I humbly quote you, ” what then is he sworn to uphold?”.
At the heart of your question is the real issue of what a fraud our president really is. This is a man who swore (on the holy bible during his swearing in) to uphold the constitution of the land. A man who professes to be a christian YET he could willingly and willfully abrogate that constitution to satisfy his personal desire to remain president. This is not a question of illegality rather CRIMINALITY and as such it must be treated.
This is a very good ground to petition any election victory by any of these illegal ministers who took undue advantage of the illegal positions they held while campaigning. i feel sorry for Kambwili and the rest. we may see a lot of petitions if these illegal ministers standing for parliamentary seats win
HH is so desperate thinking that the ruling will enhance his chances of being elected…Zambians will elect Edgar Lungu and the PF because they have numbers and delivered the campaign messages which have been accepted and on that I can I assure you… The Supreme Leader HH of the UPND, Ukubilima Mudala, because he knows he has no numbers and is falling on anything…
How does HH come into this? pipo will now start start blaming HH even when they fail to go to the toilet because of empty bellies. HH is not part of constitutional court this was well known fact that these ministers were stealing atleast even my grade nine boy understood this surely cadreism can blind too much dununa reverse dull chaps
Something is fishy here.I’m expecting a big court ruling against the opposition in the near future.Barely 2 weeks ago,ECL’s supreme court ruled in favour of the Mumba camp.Today it’s against the ruling government.They are doing a “Nkandhla ruling” to hoodwink the mases into believing that they are impartial.The TIMING OF THE RULINGS IS HIGHLY SUSPICIOUS.
1.The MMD issue was presided over by 3 of Lungu’s newly appointed judges..Mutuna etc.
2.The Constitutional court has Mulenga Mungeni who stayed up all night to give an injunction to the ECL camp and had no time in 3 months to hear Miles Sampa in court.
3.It’s common knowledge that Mutuna and Kajimanga were appointed to the Supreme court to cover ECL Ass.
The Zambian Judiciary is rotten to the bone.The opposition should be very…
CAREFUL.Don’t be excited with monkey tricks
..one does not need to be a lawyer to know that it was illegal to le ministers continue after dissolution of Parley…..if it was in a civilised country…ECL could have resigned…
…another recipe for UPND to petition if they had to lose the elections….
Where is Chishimba Chimbwili, Chimpyongo, Chikwanda fimo fimo and Bushman Kalaba who talk so arrogantly as if they are the constitution themselves ? That is always the case when a country is administered by a failed regime which is just there to accumulate personal wealth. In this campaign, they have spent so lavishly and there is a cardinal need to fully investigate how Alexander Chikwanda used to channel public funds towards PF campaigns. What an absolute dull lawyer we have in Edgar Lungu and all this is abundant proof that Lungu is a failure in his career as a lawyer.
I hope these ministers had buried part of the money they were getting from Chikwanda otherwise they will be broke like no mans business if they lose the elections.
IT IS TOO EARLY AND WRONG TO CELEBRATE THE RULING !Be careful with PF minions! SOMETHING FISHY IS IN THE COOKING JUST WAIT AND SEE. THE CONCOURT IS JUST PREPARING FERTILE GROUND FOR DECLARING ILLEGITIMATE LUNGU IN OFFICE AS PRESIDENT ELECT. OTHERWISE, THE JUDGES ARE JUST PREPARING TO RESONATE WITH THE WIND OF CHANGE IN THE COUNTRY SO THAT THEY ARE NOT FIRED BY THE NEXT GOVERNMENT.
In my view, neither HH or Lungu should be brought in this matter. The accusation that the judges are UPND cadres or that they are Lungu’s people does not hold water. If the President said let the issues be determined by the the ConCourt, to me it means he was ready to accept any verdict. The biggest question is why did this constitution court delay their judgement. Are they men and women we can trust. The insults and hate directed at both President Lungu and HH are misplaced because none of them is part of the bench. Yes Pres. Lungu appointed them but they are expected to act professionally. The way forward is to have these judges appointed by parliament and then submit names to the president for swearing in. Not the other way round.
Haters!!!!!!
This ruling has been arrived at simply to give credit to the constitutional court for what is about to happen in handling election petitions. The court will rule in favor of ECL’ and it will be deemed as a credible ruling-watch the space. In a third world country, biting the finger that feeds you on the basis of justice, is extremely rare and certainly, this is not one of those rare occasions. So the opposition shouldn’t celebrate, it is a well calculated move by ECL and his PF.
SONTAPO mockery
VIVA HH
sweetest victory ever for the people of Zambia
Twalimyebele ati umomwikele techansambu, ati iyo ba opposition balelananda from without. Te apa nomba mwasebana. VIVA HH
This is a belated response knowing very well that ECL has plundered the resources in an attempt to win the election. This an attempt to by the constitutional court to wash their hands off the issue, an issue they know will haunt them for a very long time. Why decide now, a few days from the election? The money to be repaid will have to be assessed by the auditor general and repaid immediately. The Zambia law profession is a terrible shame! You’ve let is down! I just hope that the ordinary Zambian voters sees this and realises who ECL and his cronies really are. Dangerous elements we can’t let govern our country any more! Vote to eliminate. Whatever HH’s ills and weaknesses, he’s miles better than these goons and hoodlums. One has to wonder what sort of person could appoint ministers…
The Mutembo Nchito Tribunal also opperated illegally. The judges who sat on this illegal tribunal should also pay back whatever they got. Their recomandations are also null and void.
What is right is right and what is wrong is wrong. As Zambians, we need to learn to be more of crtical thinkers and less of mere emotionalism or indeed caderism. Some of you sound like fanatics. each person or candidate must be judged on his own merit. ECL has done much but some would blame him for everything. HH has done nothing but others would credit him for everything. This really is cheap. A man is known by his actions. Fundamentally, a president must love the poor and work to uplift them so that they also have choices in life. Judge for yourselves who that man is in the present scenario. Look at the book and its cover and if sincere and honest, you cannot go wrong.