President Edgar Lungu says the judiciary like any other arm of government is susceptible to criticism.
And President Lungu has requested ZNBC to re-broadcast the interview in which State House Spokesman Amos Chanda is said to have attacked the judiciary.
President Lungu said the judiciary like all other arms of government are prone to criticism and all them should be criticised.
President Lungu was speaking to Journalist at Kenneth Kaunda International Airport in Lusaka upon arrival from Tanzania.
“But what we need to know is that all of us are prone to criticism one way or the other, the executive, judiciary and the legislature we cannot say the legislature cannot be criticised or judiciary or the executive,” President Lungu said.
“All of us the executive should be criticised, the judiciary should be criticised and the legislature but within the modicum of respect and decency of their roles that we do.”
President Lungu re-emphasised that he has respected the judiciary and his actions in the past had shown that.
“I respect the judiciary, if I did not I would not have sat down in State House and wait for them to adjudicate after elections. I didn’t and I do not think Amos would go and do different because Amos is my Spokesperson and he understands my sentiments about the judiciary,” President Lungu stated.
President Lungu however noted that that criticism of the judiciary needed to be made with a degree of decency and respect of their office and also separation of power.
And President Lungu has asked ZNBC to air the Sunday Interview which featured Mr Chanda saying critics are twisting and politicising Mr Chanda’s statement.
I have heard Amos, Amos, and I was talking to him and he says he did not say anything to warrant that so if you tell me what exactly he said then I can answer, what did he say that offended the judges,” President Lungu said.
“But what I have done is, I will ask ZNBC to air the interview on Thursday after news so that we can all hear for ourselves what he said then I will comment if there will be need, “he said.
“Probably we just want to politicise whatever he said. So I say let’s tune in on Thursday after the news and we listen to what he said then we debate. You know why I am saying this, Zambians depend on hearsay, opinion and want to run with what others think so I am saying let’s listen to what Amos said then we can debate.”
President Lungu demanded for evidence against Mr Chanda doubting his aide would speak a different tone from him.
“I have heard Amos, Amos, and I was talking to him and he says he did not say anything to warrant that so if you tell me what exactly he said then I can answer, what did he say that offended the judges,” he said.
“The Courts are sensitive I know but we need to give them space but at the same time they are prone to criticism as well like everyone else within the modicum of decency and respect of their office and also separation of power.”
He added that he respected the nullifications done by the courts so far because they were merely doing their job.
“They are doing their job and I think in the context of what Mr Chanda might have said we respect the judiciary, take a cue from me, I was in State House glued, I didn’t speak or do anything I was waiting on the court to do their job,” said President Lungu.
@@@@@
Yes we know, only the executive is immune to criticism!
You rely on hearsay. Read the article
I did, Lungu always says one thing when he means something else. This government doesn’t allow itself to be criticised, the media who criticise them are shut or suspended. They claim that you did not criticise us properly. Why would someone you want to criticise be the same one to dictate to you how they wish to be criticised? What sort of knownsense is that?
Hello Mr. President … you were doing very well in your statement until you said this and I quote “… You know why I am saying this, Zambians depend on hearsay, opinion and want to run with what others think”.
You should have said “some of our people” instead of “Zambians depend …”.
By stereotyping you lost me … now remember I am your number one fun. You denigrated all the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise including your supporters.
We are all allowed to make 1 mistake a year, this is your first one and you have 31 days left … so, remain Lincolnist, don’t fall for the bait next time around.
In my opinion, you are still the best to lead the nation at the moment … thanks a trillion.
Mr. President you could have easily and privately asked for the recording of the peogramme. No need to direct ZNBC like that. Even specifying the day and time. Now you have just proved that indeed you control the public media.
I will Never understand ECL ….”I respect the judiciary, if I did not I would not have sat down in State House and wait for them to adjudicate after elections” …… REALLY? and this is coming from a self respecting President who swore to uphold the constitution?? Bwana you had no choice this is what the constitution requires of you PERIOD! and you are not above it …Like it or NOT ….Yet again dangerous insinuations from him to his ignoramous followers who will even praise him for such a statement 🙁
@BR Mumba, I wonder what you find to be impressive in Lungu, is it his many overseas trips, his inability to address the state of the nation at press conferences, his lack of enthusiasm or his obviousness to what’s going on in Zambia now?
@ B R Mumba, Sr
Now this explains your ridiculous support for Lungu, you say, ‘you are his number one fun’.
What if ZNBC delete some things, of which they will do? Edgar has just decided to dive in mud, he will be so dirty on Friday morning.
Ba Gringo:
What do you find unimpressive about our President? Is it his ability to connect with the common man on the streets or his ability to remain humble while so much in control? Is it his ability to win election after election on first attempt or his governing gravitas while the pompous remain aloof?
Is it his ability to hold the complexities of running a country yet remain calm? Is it his belief in the institutions we have built for ourselves while we yet believe in our national identity? Is it his belief that we as the smart people of the Zambian Enterprise hold the keys to our destiny and can actually self-actualize if we put our mind to it?
Or is it that you have always undermined him in your elitism but you have lost your wits at every end? Please advise … thanks a…
Look at him …really laughable …BR Mumba has finally decided to join us from his sweet day dreaming of his mythical Zambian Enterprise. I wonder where he was when Lungu was jetting off for a two day tour of Tanzania or when his Grandma Bo Inonge annouced that he had halved his salary.
“You cannot run and scratch your anus at the same time.” -Nigerian Proverb
Ba The London Eye:
You betcha! Just like that dinosaur in the heart of London erected in 1999 so called the London Eye which I refer to as the “ridiculous” giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames, I am such a “ridiculous” supporter of our President.
By the way, what happened to London? The once clean adorable city Zambia Airways used to fly to non-stop those golden days of weekend London shopping? You would fly in Thursday night arrive at 6:05 Greenwich Meridian Time, run into Mayfair to quirky finds in Covent Garden, bustling Oxford Street and jump on tubes at Oxford Circus, Bond Street or Tottenham Court Road.
Fly back Sunday evening back to work on Monday … amenso pano!!! So dirty nowadays London is!!!
This shows that Lungu did not listen to the interview. What manner of a president that insulates himself from information? I thought reading was reasonably hard, nomba even listening in hard for this Zambian president. Yangu!
“President Edgar Lungu says the judiciary like any other arm of government is susceptible to criticism.”
You hypocrite! Is that why you closed the Post Newspaper? Is that why you closed down Muvi TV? Is that why you took Komboni radio off the air?
LIAR!
There is Lazy Bum Lungu doing an interview on an Airport tarmac with a background of the Presidential Challenger…really laughable…if you are serious about address issues host a Press conference at State House.
Kapuli, all presidents answer questions at the airport. Grow up
Only lazy tin-pot dictators answer questions at airports …hard working Presidents have no time to stand around airports and disrupt flight schedules; they host press briefings.
Moreover they do not fly out for tours and leave their Press Aid to do a recorded interview to address a nation which they should have done themselves.
He thinks he’s Donald Trump who hires/owns a plane with TRUMP written on it. This lazy bum will pay soon when he is kicked out.
“But what I have done is, I will ask ZNBC to air the interview on Thursday after news so that we can all hear for ourselves what he said then I will comment if there will be need, “said Lazy Lungu.
Really laughable ..This is the selfsame person who stated to the EU election monitors that he has no control over ZNBC…here he is clearly giving an order even specifying a time to broadcast immediately he has landed with no consideration of their schedule.
he just showed that he doesnt know what the st**p chanda said on deadnbc
Not a great fan of Lungu but the way he answered the question showed that he is way above most of those who challenged him for presidency. Am really disappointed with Peter Sinkamba of the Greens. The guy seems to be more of a noise maker who jumps on a band wagon because that is what the mob psychology demands. I would like to see opposition leader who can stand his own and talk objective!
Apparently you missed Sata before and during his stay at plot one.
That’s it. The programme was recorded so Lungu must have approved the content hence his strong support for his chola boy against an arm of the governance of our dear country.
Chief Justice what do you say?
Bwalya said he spoke to the judge and masebo lost her. Adding that PF will not loose any more petitions. Meaning PF controls the judges.
The judiciary can only redeem itself by citing both chanda and Bwalya. The absence of this action is clear indication that state house controls the judiciary.
Well said. Seems Ireen Mambilima is only a good danceable song.
threats and criticism are not the same,can someone explain to this man what the Kenyan judicial reforms Amos referred to are?maybe the AG can explain
ECL is more sincere than Harlot Hachigala. If he was not sincere, he wouldn’t have asked for a rebroadcast. Viva Edgar. U av torn HH apart. Let HH commit suicide or go back to south africa if he is tired with ecl. If u who is reading this were asked the president of zambia, who is it. Thnx for that answer. Edgar till 2026. God is good o the time. Satan is sh it o the time.
ulichipubawekolwe…
ZNBC to re-broadcast Amos Chanda’s interview? Are you you and your minions won’t edit it to fit your statement? And you say you will comment after the interview has been re-broadcast? Lungu, don’t take the people of Zambia for being foolish. In my view, you have already commented by this statement you issued at KKIA. Rather, you would would have given a ‘NO COMMENT’ Statement in response to the journalists and request ZNBC to re-broadcast the interview. To the contrary, it’s you Lungu who depends so much on hearsay and this is what makes you a bad and comical Head of State.
@Sinono great point and observation. Who voted for this lunatic kanshi….why are we so behind with the rest of the world?? ECL is clearly taken Zambians for granted. The interview will be edited and then what…??? Like you said, ECL should never have commented till he seen it if he were all about telling the truth anyways but No. Let us mobilize ourselves guys those of us whobare here and see what happens. Let us make Zambia Great Again!!! For us it will make more sense.
WHY is this headline? The courts have decided to hear UPND’s petition. Why is this not headlines when it is the biggest news of the day? SO lusaka times is also a biased useless online publication? I have been away from this website due to fighting hard on the ground with our learned lawyers. Now that I have succeded as part of the team to ensure our petition is heard, i come back to lungu being a headline based on a lousy article. you dogs. grow up
Its not hearing the petition! Its hearing whether rights for HH were not granted stone head.
@8, you are such a pillock, you claim you were fighting hard on the ground and yet you miss the gist of your court case. Who told you ‘the courts have decided to hear UPND’s (presidential) petition, or is that what your ‘smooth little brain’ has interpreted to you..!?
You should have stayed under the bridge without popping up with your drivel.
Such a loser…
What courts have decided to hear what petition naimwe ba UPNdonkeys? Today the Lusaka High court has excluded the president, vice president and Chief Justice from the UPND case. There is no petition before the high court, only a misguided case to be heard in December in a futile attempt to resurrect the failed petition by overturning the Concourt decision. As a UPNdonkey you probably did not notice the loaded statement by the Judge that “parties must realise that this court is subordinate to the Concourt in the judiciary hierarchy”.
This UPNdonkey case is just a cash benefit from HH’s wealth, I hope that Martha Mushipe dies benefit from HH’s millions and resurrect her legal career.
You don’t have to insult. Is it in-born with some of you Zambians?
Why does ECL want to make Chanda great? He is a civil servant and by him asking the whole nation to sit and listen to Chanda`s interview is again underestimating the intelligence of most Zambians.
Okay Zambians, give Chanda a chance and let him expose himself.
Lets agree to one thing if it turns out that Chanda said what he was quoted in the media, he should be fired the same day on thursday. It would have been a good gesture from ECL if he had offered firing Chanda in case Media was right in return for asking Zambians to re-watch the rubbish.
@General kanene:why do you wish bad your fellow zambian?Amos Chanda didnt say anything bad about the judiciary.what will you gain if Amos is fired?please stop the pull him down sydrome because its evil.God’s time is the best.if hh was meant to be a Zambian president,he will for sure be one day.its very irritating to see how hh fights for the presidency!!his desperation for state house make him lose a lot of votes because Zambians by nature do not vote for desperate politicians!!!RECALL HOW VOTERS FOUGHT FOR ECL OR SATA?ECL CAME FROM NO WHERE AND TODAY HE IS IN STATE HOUSE.IF HE CONTINUES WORKING HARD,DONT BE SHOCKED SEEING HIM WIN AGAIN IN 2021 UP TO 2026-MARK MY WORDS!!its very true that presidents are born and not made.hh and gbm have money but they are too far away from the…
you, my dear, are a dog in human skin
Well said mr president, Even where we are in diaspora most Zambians don’t talk business but kachepa,
NOTHING WRONG WITH CRITICISM THE ISSUE MANY PEOPLE HAVE IS WITH THE “WARNING”. AS THOUGH TO SUGGEST THAT IF JUDICIARY DOES NOT CONFORM THEN THEY WILL BE DEALT WITH. YOUR PRESS AID NEEDS TO CHOOSE HIS WORDS CAREFULLY. I GUESS WITH A LITTLE ANALYSIS ONE CAN DEDUCE WHAT HE WAS TRYING TO SAY JUST DIDN’T SAY IT RIGHT. SO STOP THE “WARNINGS” AND GET ON WITH ACTUALLY HANDLING THE MANY ECONOMIC AND SOCIAL PROBLEMS THE COUNTRY IS FACING!!!!!
Slippery slope Mzee Lungu.The judiciary is not immune to criticism but your corrupt ,lying ,wasteful ,incompetent and abusive government is immune?
If you are going to address the Press why not invite them to state house? Anyway you speak off the cuff what will you do if you discover the Chanda you have been speaking with actually uttered that which has angered the legal fraternity to which you once belonged until you indiscriminately squandered money belonging to a client. Today after the ruling to exclude the President ECL and others, Chairman Mao our Great Leader was soooo excited that his personal petition will finally be heard?? Am not sure he was listening to the ruling in its entirety…But us unlike him are patient 2021 Zambia Forward under new leadership
Convert that pillock NEZ too, so much wax in his ears just like his (and your erstwhile) wooden idol Kainde…!
Mark Amos Chanda, he is going to intimidate ZNBC to censor that interview.
It was recorded it was not live..so they must have let Lazy Lungu watch it first and approve then show it.
Most of you here are basing facts of what Amos said to the crooked online article rather than the live tv recordings. Ecl knowing exactly what Amos said has advised that you listen to the rebroadcast of the interview so you can base your argument on the truth rather than fakes on social media. Imagine even the journalist failed to say what Amos is said but acting on mob.
Regardless he still should not have commented as there are still election petition cases before the courts pending judgement including appeals of the very cases he commented on
What was discussed in TANZANIA? ANY RESULTS? Why didnt Journalist ASK THIS vital Question? How many signings did ECL makewith Magufuli and in what area?
That is why the President said what he said – instead of journalists concentrating on what the trip yielded, they are more interested in stirring in a storm in a cup. Hopeless souls.
Independence of the judiciary is non negotiable Bwana Lungu.Quit your cheap intimidation and undue influence on a free branch of GRZ.
Well said – The Judiciary SHOULD NOT BE AN ARM OF THE GOVERNMENT !! The Judiciary should be an INDEPENDENT BRANCH OF THE GOVERNMENT SUBJECT ONLY TO THE CONSTITUTION AND THE LAWS OF THE COUNTRY !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Lol. Please re-read Montesquieu’s theory on the separation of powers (if you have bothered to read it at all). It will aver that although separate; the judiciary IS in fact an arm of government.
How can these semi-illiterate critiques have time to read Montesquieu’s theory Ba Kunda? These are subjects of great political and legal scholarly minds.
The discussants are simply GRZ critiques based on who is in state house.
The President is right. Seperation of piwer is not the same s criticism. The judiciary is one of the three arms of Govt made up of humans like the other so if they do silly things and overtly wirh partisan interest we should criticie them. They are not angels but humans like all of us and and can be fallible
Amos threatened the judiciary and came across more like a party cadre than a civil servant. Knowing how sycophants operate, his tone and attitude indicated he had Lungu’s blessing to go ahead and insult the judiciary. In Bemba they say mumbwe ukulila ninshi pali apo ashintilishe umusula. Ati criticism? Who is Lungu kidding? What’s the rebroadcast intended to prove? That Zambians are dull and needs something repeated many times to comprehend it?
STOP IT! It will be an abuse of power and resources for the President to order that the whole country listenes again to that drivel by Amos Chanda. The President should ask for a private listening in the comforts of State House. And so, what is the purpose of the President listening to the interview? Is it to make a decision or just to amuse himself or to educate himself? Please raise the governance standards to the levels Kaunda left them at some 30 years ago!
He confirms he controls DeadNBC.
I lungu the chief hypocrite hereby decree that the judiciary must be criticised. However, if you criticise the executive we will send police to arrest you on flimsy fake charges. I also never control the media so I won’t ask Deadnbc to broadcast anything I will ask Mwamba to tell them. My salary remains cut by half just stop looking at my travel allowances.
Sorry i meant Chanda my Henchman not Mwamba
get ready for the edited version this thursday.
Was chanda warning the Judges because some of our brothers ruled (Not All were sitting in Chambers that day) against NKandu Luo and Margret Mwanakatwe elections? Very Interesting. Note the wisdom of King Solomon: 1. Be silent if you would be ashamed of your words later: Prov. 8 v 8 and 2. Be silent if your words would convey the wrong impression : Prov. 17 V 27
Hello ba Chagwa, criticism and threats are two different things…pull your head out of the clouds for a few seconds and get back to reality. Pa Zambia ifintu tafili bwino.
It was not a threat. It was merely a warning that the judiciary, to be truly independent, must be free from all prejudice, including political and tribal predilections…
BUT WHERE IS THE JUDICIARY CAN SOME ONE COME OUT AND SAY SOMETHING BEFORE WE ARE SHOWN AN EDITED VERSION OF THE INTERVIEW
Have you ever heard the judiciary coming out..?
Isn’t he the one who accused Zambians of not reading and depending on hear say
when he alleged that he had read the constitution. He arrogantly went made his
Ministers stay in office when they were not supposed to do so. Can he also tell ZNBC
to air the recording of his press conference where he castigated Zambian for not
reading so that we can as well prove who depends on hear say.
ZNBC ALREADY EDITED THIS STORY, SHOWING IT AGAIN IS A WASTE OF TIME. IF THE PRESIDENT WAS SERIOUS ABOUT IT, HE WOULD HAVE SIMPLY ASKED ZNBC TO FURNISH HIM WITH ORIGINAL COPY. ASKING ZNBC TO AIR IT WHEN WE ALL KNOW THAT IT HAS BEEN COOKED TO THE BEST TASTE OF THOSE WHO WANNA EAT IT IS NOT BEING FARE ENOUGH. I REMEMBER A SIMILAR INSTANCE UNDER MWANAWASA WHEN VJ WENT TO CONGO DRC. THE POST WROTE A STORY WHICH VJ DISPUTED BUT LITTLE DID HE KNOW THE POST HAD A RECORDING ON THE SAME. THAT IS HOW VJ LOST HIS JOB. AMOS IS TRADING ON VERY THIN ICE BY TELLING A LIE TO THE HEAD OF STATE.
Retire those erring judges in National interest. We have had enough of this dustbin circus.
True but do this ex aequo et bono and not just for the sake of political vindictiveness.
All stories aside, HE ECL is amazing. I mean how easily he explains things without the aid of any writing. His fluency and point picking is hard to compare. Is it intelligence or does he memorize what he says in such coordinated manner or what? I ensure am home if he is speaking on TV trying to learn this rare approach. He does not react like the late Sata, Mwanawasa, RB or KK. For those that do not believe, take time to watch and analyse his speech everytime he speaks:- fluency and calmness. No harsh words, no insults, no belittling words, mostly no writings and with maximum attention just always. Am not in politics but he has both a skill and art I have to learn. His presentation is very close to perfect and maybe that’s why critics say he does not do what he says.
Honestly Honest, you are honestly very Honest!!! Like your honesty Honest.
Honest, Mr. Chagwa Edgar Lungu earned a DISTINCTION in law at University of Zambia. ”Distinctions” are rarely given my brother at UNZA. Ask Wynter Kabimba his classmate. I teach at UNZA I understand him. Some people just criticize the President without facts. I love him for possessing a rarer mind. Not even Mwanawasa can be compared to my President Mr. Edgar Chagwa Lungu. I also liked Mazoka, he had a rarer mind. Mazoka was another man with Distinctions. I miss Mazoka too.
Criticism is the price we pay for being known. When you criticize you analyse. When you analyse you oppose. Whats your take on this? Trump, HH, GBM criticized their election body at one time or the other. They analysed and concluded some judges were unsuitable for the bench in question at that time. Criticism is part of our day to day life.
I hope those with a PRV or an advanced recorder recorded this program. ZNBC will edit it & mark my words.
Criticism is normal should you go back to English lessons to get a better understanding of the meaning of the word or what coz there’s nothing wrong with it; how many people have criticized Lungu ever-since he became president? so whats so special about the judiciary after all they’re just human like any of us so why the the big deal.
Besides, how many times have we heard the opposition and their NGO supporters not just criticize, but insult the Judiciary?
Isn’t this the man who misled the ministers. Can he now be trusted?
EL is President now for all Zambians. That is how civilised nations treat their leaders.Zambia is civilised. one has to respect the rule of law and know what to preside means and your nation held high. Do not make Zambia a village. A time will come again to vote and since Zambia urbanised if you never truly lived in their Cosmopolitan Community you will need to demonstrate how you mingle and relate to the voters. Every nation demands that. You may sing praises of your education.
Giving instructions to air a programme on national television is exactly why ZNBC will always lag behind.
Lungu graduated with a credit
Indeed we have a rotten Judiciary System in this country and must be exposed. We have Judges like Emelia Sunkutu who can not deliver judgements of cases for over 5 years. Cases she presided on while at Industrial Relations Court are not disposed off today. Where is justice? Why is she failing to pass judgement? What keeps her busy. The Chief Justice is aware and so does the Judiciary Complaints Commission but have failed to get her to deliver pending judgements.
Should we adopt the jungle law in dealing with our disputes and differences because courts can’t resolve them.
Mmmm, this presido…. Ati you know Zambians depend on hearsay….
Did anyone record the interview – so we can compare with the one that is going to be ‘repeated’. And why is Lungu in a hurry to defend what he didn’t ‘watch’