President Lungu told Journalists shortly before departure for Botswana this afternoon that he will need to ask the people of Zambia on what they think before considering to pull out of the ICC.
President Lungu said that Zambia needs to study the matter critically before making any decision. The Preident noted that this was a matter for the nation that needed critical engagement, before adding that that Zambia will raise this issue at the forthcoming African Peer Review Mechanism meeting.
The African Union (AU) has called for the mass withdrawal of member states from the International Criminal Court. Foreign ministers agreed to a plan for pulling out of the International Criminal Court (ICC) and immediately begin work on local justice mechanisms, saying The Hague-based court, offered little chance of advancing justice in the continent.
Foreign Ministers from 28 countries agreed to back the mass withdrawal of all the countries that have signed the Rome Statute although the call would not be imposed on any member state.
The decision to withdraw from the ICC has been at the forefront of discussions at the AU, but this is the first time that the AU’s Open-Ended Ministerial Committee on the ICC, currently chaired by Ethiopia, with Algeria, Burundi, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda, as its management bureau.
The countries which participated at the ministerial meeting on the ICC were Algeria, Angola, Burundi, Chad, Congo, Cote d’Ivoire, Chad, Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Eritrea and Equatorial Guinea.
The others were Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Mali, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Sudan, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.
The AU Executive Council, which wound up its meeting last month after preparing the AU Summit agenda, adopted a new strategy on how to manage justice in Africa after the ICC exit.
While the Executive Council adopted the decision to pull out of the ICC, the final steps on when to pull out would be made by the countries on an individual basis. However, those which agree to pull out of the court agreed to do so simultaneously.
The ministers of foreign affairs agreed reforms, which include purging the UN Security Council, from referring cases to the Court is dealt with.
The ministers also raised issues about the evaluation of evidence and how witnesses appearing at the ICC were chosen.
During the ministerial debate, the foreign ministers agreed to use the case of South Africa in dealing with the post apartheid regime elements as a case in point on handling justice in Africa.
Ba Vodiga Rungu, leaving the ICC is a personal decision because it is you who is a potential suspect to be prosecuted by this court. Please stop patronizing us or insulting our intelligence as if we have shared in your plundered wealth.
How about asking the zambian people before talking about the third term?
Ask us?? Is referring to a referendum or he will appoint another Commission of Inquiry?
Zambians will not understand what’s is ICC, is it for HH and ECL only?
Funny Enough Malawi is not there and they are curbing corruption in its tracks. Lol
Stay in it.
Thanks
BB2014,16
@Nostradamus,
I don’t see bana Dalitso going on trips with our friend Edgar these days,,,,, during the campaigns bana Dalitso was dancing allover,,,, what’s happening kansi?
This is a critical matter and needs the support of all Zambians
Lazy is not even ashamed to conduct press briefings on the airport tarmac…if you have something to say why don’t you host a press conference…this is someone who has not addressed the nation live since he was sworn in; its seems his MMD Finance Minister is the only one making what would be labelled average pronouncements….the Lazy Bum is only preoccupied with events in other countries on the calendar. How shameful…surely what did we do to be cursed with such an utterly useless good for nothing leader.
All those haters that ran the Watchdog have now migrated to Lusaka Times. Anything coming from the President must be trashed – huh!!!!
As much as it would be good for democracy in Africa the o stay in the iCC, this organization has been known to only target third world countries, especially aftican. George Bush, Netanyahu, and the like get away with murder. For this reason I would be for us leaving the court unless we have equal application of the law to all member states.
ECL is not attempting to go for a third term but rather a second. Why is it when something concerns Lungu, people stop thinking?
LUNGU IS A WORST DICTATOR ZAMBIA HAS EVER HAD. WHICH ZAMBIANS WILL HE CONSULT? DOES HE CONSULT ZAMBIANS ON THE POOR PERFORMANCE OF THE ECONOMY? THE MAN SHOULD NEVER MAKE THAT DEAD MISTAKE BECAUSE WE KNOW HE WANTS TO STAY IN STATE HOUSE FOREVER,SHAME ON HIM
The guilty are ever afraid of even their own shadows, why is ICC an issue? Are you afraid of something we need to know? If you are clean as you claim to be why are you scared of an institution that Zambia joined long before you even dreamt of stealing votes and shedding innocent blood just to be where you are? Lelo lelo, lelo kalendele!
LUNGU should STOP degrading/embarrassing the Zambian President’s office at Foreign Countries’ Airports. The photos circulating on social media are so EMBARRASSING!!
wwwDOTzambianobserverDOTcom/photos-of-the-day-night-club-spirit-seizes-kaminaminsa-president-khama-disgusted/
Dictators are scrambling to get out of the ICC. They don’t think this will give them passport to brutalise and murder their own people. Guess what, you are dead wrong. Membership or not, the international community will still be able to watch your every move and bring you to justice. The ICC can even have jurisdiction over non member states and issue your arrest warrant that can be implemented by their European states; impose travel ban on you so that you will be confined to your own country and Africa until you die. If all fails, they could free your assets and cash stashed in Swiss banks and Caribbean region. This is no brainer really.
As for the likes of Bush or Netanyahu, yes they are killers too, but the only difference is they killed people who are not their own people like the…
…
As for the likes of Bush or Netanyahu, yes they are killers too, but the only difference is they killed people who are not their own people like the way dictators in Africa behave (Rwanda, Liberia, Congo, Ivory Coast, Sudan, etc.). I know it’s still killing but there’s a difference between invading another country while still respecting the will and human rights of your own country.
Also somebody else touched on aid and dependability… that’s also something to consider.
African dictators and theives are pushing their countries to withdraw from the ICC. They want free acsses to plunder their nations riches while brutalising any opposition.
If you want to withdraw from the ICC stop taking international doner aid as well.
Yes, baba that is my observation too. The real African Dictators are pulling the strings and weaker ones are following. Otherwise, there is no reason whatsoever for Zambia to leave ICC
hahaha i like the stop accepting donor money,thats right on the head of the nail.
Very backward country and it’s savage leadership. Does it make any sense for all the ministers and including the vice president to escort Lungu to the airport every time he goes on a drinking and eating spree in foreign countries? A more mature and responsible leadership is needed for Zambia.
Its is a ghastly sight you have the IG even dressed up with the usual empty tins seeing off this Lazy Bum who is going to across Zambezi River to Botswana…look at British PM or Germany Chancellor or Trump when they are flying out or in their motorcade simply speeds through to the tarmac and out …no one even notices. Yes I mention them because their taxpayers supplement our budget.
ICC is a watchdog for white plunderers of Africa’s wealth, get it right people. It’s indecision on his part to say I’ll consult Zambians. He should make a decision as President and inform the nation. The only decision is to withdraw from ICC.
Yes and withdraw from all foreigne aid…..don’t beg them for their money and no one will judge you.
@ Lombe
If “…ICC is a watchdog for white plunderers of Africa’s wealth…”, what are African “leaders”doing about? Sharing the spoils with “white plunderers” and borrow billions for “unprecedented development” which are wasted on Chinese contractors when millions Africans are living in poverty ?
WAKE-UP you arse licking 1MBECILE and keep your “leaders” accountable.
you seem to be benefitting from the plundering also why withdraw
He will need ICC when his family is brutalised by the next regime. Where is he going to seek justice? When tribesman start slaughtering each other, where is he going to run to?
Being in State House just confuses these people. All the missteps Lungu has made will set a precedent against himself when he is no longer President. Jammeh of Gambia learnt that the hard way when his own petition could not be heard before the next President was inaugurated. Lungu will one day regret his backward actions.
I agree with you @Wantanshi this is politics of pre-independence era. Why follow the President everywhere he goes?
How about asking the zambian people before talking about the third term?
Problem with I.C.C, is it only has mainly Africans, South Americans, people of Colour, & a few Eastern Europeans on its Radar, & crosshairs!
Kissinger, Ariel Sharon, Netanyahu, Pik Botha, Ian Smith, Bush, Blair, to name a few genocidal Psychopathic maniacs, who NEVER even registered on I.C.C books coz they were mainly White, & their victims mainly people with ample amounts of melanin.
I WOULD LEAVE THAT SELECTIVE RACIST ORGANISATION!!
Yes you are right. That list you mentioned all seem to be providers of foreigne aid. Stop begging them for their money and they will not judge you.
Spaka thanks for your comment, This is the type of debate I love. No insults, attitudes, just debate.
However country Man/Woman, firstly may I be allowed to correct your misconceptions.
1. Ian Smith, & Botha, who I believe are no longer living, & now long expired to Hell were NEVER providers of foreign aid to Africa. These Devils came to africa, plundered, & enslaved our Kith & Kin under horrific conditions, in the process making large profits for themselves, & their race.
I doubt Netanyahu even considers Africans Human, to even give us aid, & if they do they benefit TENFOLD @ the expence of the Black African. As we speak your fellow Africans are currently held in Concentration camps in Israel, please do your research!
2. There’s a widely held delusion that the West subsidises…
Cont;
that the West subidises Africa. Thats a myth that educated leaned folk have since debunked!! TRUTH IS IT IS AFRICA THAT SUBSIDISES, & PROPS UP THE WEST!
Problem is our Tin pot corrupt African leaders, who will always take a corrupt Kickback, & give away our resources & wealth for a song! Spaka If Africa was united, & told the West we are closing up the Gravy train, & wont export any of our resources, EUROPE & AMERICA WOULD SUFFOCATE TO DEATH, & MY FRIED THAT IS A FACT!!
Why do you think China pretends to be your friends. Let me assure You, “IT AIN’T YOUR BLACK SKIN”. Its your Wealth that you are disposing of for Peanuts.
Now back to the issue. BEFORE AFRICA CONTINUES WITH THE DODGY RACIST I.C.C, BLOODTHIRSTY “BLIAR” & “GENOCIDAL BUSH” SHOULD APPEAR IN THE HAIG…
Cont;
BEFORE AFRICA CONTINUES MEMBERSHIP OF THIS DODGY SELECTIVE RACIST I.C.C, ORGANISATION, BLOODTHIRSTY “BLIAR”, & “GENOCIDAL BUSH” SHOULD BE PRESENTED TO THE HAIG DOC ANSWERING FOR WAR CRIMES, EVEN U.N -KOFFI ANNAN CONFESSED WERE COMMITTED BY THIS TERRIBLE DUO.
I Hereby Rest My Case!!!
@ Keleni tasa atushe’
Before resting your Case, firstly check if either UK (“BLIAR”) and US (“GENOCIDAL BUSH”) are part of ICC. On the other hand, when you do your “research”, can you please check how many African Countries have acceded or ratified participation/membership to African Union Court of Human Rights.
Awaiting eagerly to your non-racist response.
According to a Press Release on the AU Website the AU has de-recognised President Lungu of Zambia. The Press Release states that the outgoing AU Chairman President Idriss Derby of Chad said that AU “warmly welcomed the newly elected Presidents of Gambia, Ghana, Sao-Tome and Principe and Seychelles, won through a democratically elected process organized in their respective countries”. President of Zambia was omitted from the list of AU Member Countries who held elections in 2016. This means President Lungu is considered by AU to be an illegitimate President becoz he was not democratically,lawfully and Constitutionally elected. This stance by AU makes the Hearing of the Petition imperative if President Lungu wishes to restore his legitimacy. Does SADC agree with Heroic Ecowas and AU on…
Oh Lazy Lungu you are an utter disgrace on one hand you are begging like a tramp in the streets from these selfsame guys and on the other hand you say you want out. You have no leg to stand on the same people who balance your budget…even a simple bus station in Choma you have get a $6 million hand out. Shameful….last week your MMD Finance minister was in Europe begging for loans.
Lazy Lungu sort out the economy and your own house forst before you start making such silly irrelevant utterances.
Get you priorities right Lazy Lungu!!
That is right. Africans are not even ashamed.
Calling the ICC Whitman justice while they unashamedly beg for aid.
That’s like loving and worshipping the criminal but hating his crimes.
Mr President Sir, please we need to remain in the ICC! We need the ICC inorder to bring justice to the thousands of displaced Zambians that voted against the Hungry Hyena (HH) that were brutalized by the blood thirsty United Dunderheads in the aftermath of the August elections! Even HH and GBV should both be arrested by ICC for promoting this violence. Their crimes are truelly unspeakable and couldve plunged this country into chaos had it not been for the quick action of the capable Zambian Police Service!
Senility affects vision?
Those pulling out of ICC are the same leaders who don’t want to see vibrant insitutions at home that can hold them accountable.Thus you see ineffective auditor general,underfunded courts ,politicized IG ,an incompetent ACC and director of public prosecutions who is compromised.
By all means leave ICC, Africa does not need to call on the colonial masters to solve their problems. Like you dont ask a person from another household to come and solve your internal affairs. Same difference! I like the way the west African countries got together with AU to kick the Gambian president out of office. I wish the same could happen to the other presidents who want to stay in office even when they know they are not wanted.
However, Mr Lungu should make the decision alone with his government because we were not involved in the first place. But if my opinion counts, by all means LEAVE!
@Chilli bites
The “colonial masters” are already involved in sorting out most of Zambia’s problems. The national budget doesn’t balance until donors do something about it. You can’t open your newspaper without some item about the British, Germany, Denmark or some other has donated this or that towards developing Zambia. At the rate the illegal govt of Lungu is busy going against the basic tenets of governance Zambia is headed towards a major economic catastrophe.
This is laughable coming as it is from illegitimate President Lungu! Did Lungu consult us when he stole our votes? Did Lungu Consult us when he closed Mulungushi Textile? Did Lungu consult us when he apointed Justice Chulu to rig our elections? Did Lungu consult us when he appointed his friends and Night Judges as Concourt Justices? Did Lungu consult us when his Concourt justices “dismissed” the Petition? Did Lungu consult us when his PF Police murdered Mapenzi Chibalo in cold blood? Did Lungu consult us when he bribed Concourt and High Court Judges over the Petition? Anybody who trusts illegitimate President Lungu does so at his own Peril. Lungu and his fellow Dictators like Mugabe,Kabila etc are behind the planned exodus of AU Member Countries from ICC. Lungu is not trustworthy so…
African countries pulling out of ICC should not be entertained. This matters for 4 reasons: 1- Failure to adhere to the rule of law by most African countries – jangle law and hard core dictatorship will result.
2- Accountability is already a problem in most African countries – pulling out means leaders will be gods.
3- Transparency is not possible from failure of accountability.
4- Death of democracy – return to stone age and savagery.
As the Economist put it ‘AU has condemned blatant coups, but its monitors have approved elections that were not free and fair. Knowing that African leaders find the ICC too muscular, African alternatives explicitly grant immunity to incumbent rulers – not fit for purpose to its citizens. Africa needs ICC as a checker.
Targeting African presidents, I think this is the right time to movvout membership please! Why not. Have we witnessed any white president, example ka Ronald Reagan prosecuted for mass destruction? Wake up guys, Zambia must pull out. All the best
@ Livingstone
Please wake-up from your nightmarish dream. You are blaming Ronald Reagan for what? When did USA become Party to ICC?
Don’t even think of corrupting the publics minds .
A white man is no longer a factor in our daily factors, If you feel a white man needs you he’s just wasting your intelligence, energy and your pure integrant! Wake up and get out of this colonial posterity harm! A white man is not your friend. All the best
You spew out such rubbish yet you are there praying to your savior called Jesus to come and save you from your sins, you even have a portrait of a white blonde blue eyed man in your living rooms your kids look up to…really laughable…everyday you are ignorantly reinforcing white supremacy. You carry a silly novel call King James Bible not even knowing who this evil man was and his relation to your people
You have an controllable thirst for accumulating debt yet you do not want to work hard and support yourself…an example is this Lazy Bum who is flying all over the region.
“Debt is a cleverly managed reconquest of Africa. It is a reconquest that turns each one of us into a financial slave.” Speaking at an OAU summit, 1987.
How will you ask us? Via a referendum? You don’t have the money. Via DeadNBC? We no longer tune in to govt propaganda stations. Via parliament? You only go there once a year. Stop kidding. You won’t consult us. South Africa will bribe you to vote with them
Jay Jay is a lost cause. A missed call
What about you? Lost in the evolution of humanoids and still looking for next step?
I support this move not that its coz ECL is in power but would have supported it even if Muliokela was there. We should analyse this as an African decision because we have seen which type of ‘accused persons’ find themselves there. Why havent those that kill innocent people in Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Afhganistan find themselves there. Its a purely Neo-colonistlist beast that we have to fight. If we need such things we need one that is handled by Arfican Regional bodies then if these chaps support it, they can simply fund it.
If that is the case, can you clarify why only 6 out of 54 African Countries have ratified Arusha Convention? After all, AU Court of Human Rights is African Union body?
You are surprised?
It must be fault of colonialists, imperialists, racists, tribalists and donors?
We need ICC to Deter and fight for the voiceless, less connected and the poor. How do you think if I said we need to pull away the armed forces dressed in camouflage sorround The President? I bet you will say there are bad Zambian that need to be deterred from the president.
Poor Inonge! Has she ever gone anywhere?
The drunkard is a also a jealous guy. He sees everything in terms of allowances. He thinks delegating the vice president to represent him in some foreign land is tantamount to stealing allowances from him. That’s his reasoning, warped thinking but that’s how he looks at the situation.
Too frail to travel for the Grandma!!
African Union is full of corrupt dictators. Changwa should know that Zambians want Zambia to remain in ICC. If he removes Zambia from ICC we shall go back to ICC after him and the ICC law shall then catch up with him. So let him keep Zambia in ICC if he wants to be forgiven of his PF violence. #Nono, it is people like you who have made some Africa leaders like Edgar to behave like they’re gods above others. Leave Netanyahu alone. if someone destroys your country and people, would you sit and do nothing?
Oh look at the whole lazy cabinet and security people doing nothing at the airport. and you wonder why there’s no real development in Zambia and why the country is filthy, especially Lusaka
There is a difference between criticism and hatred Ba Upnd you lost the ekections the people of Zambia have rejected your ka god HH live with it.
Illegitimate Lungu is lying to the Nation. Lungu would like to pull Zambia becoz he has committed numerous crimes against Zambians. Under Lungu’s watch innocent people have been arrested, detained ,jailed and killed. Lungu has stolen Elections and carried out a coup detat against the Zambian Constitution. Lungu knows that he is a good candidate of ICC. Lungu has committed crimes similar to Lorrent Gbagbo of Ivory Coast who is now rotting in ICC jails. Lungu is in power illegally and unconstitutionally and would like to pull Zambia out of ICC but it wont be easy. To pull out of ICC it takes a year after completing withdrawal formalities. Even after leaving ICC Lungu will still be liable for prosecution after leaving ICC for crimes committed b4 then. If Lungu had his way he would leave ICC…
Lazy man in state house
Why should we pull out from ICC?I’m sure everybody who is reading this knows the answer. We want to avoid prosecution because of the wrongs that we know we have committed,are committing and intend to commit. You would not be afraid of the courts if you know deep down that you are an innocent person.
This explains why he was scared of the petition,the guilty are afraid.
ICC has a bad image in the eyes of many Africans. ICC is identified and associated with targeting defenseless African suspects. ICC needs to address concerns raised by South Africa.
Zambia should not succumb to peer pressure as the reason for pulling out of the ICC. Zuma knows why he is pulling out – he knows what may happen to him because of unbecoming behaviour; all leaders in Africa , who have a tainted record would love to leave the ICC “last year”. A good , clean President will not wish to leave the ICC.
No coment
Were Zambians consulted to join the so called the ICC? Just thinkin……..
Whether or not Zambia should pull out of ICC is Not a Priority at all. The Petition is Priority Number One. Its 5 months since Zambians went to the Polls and they still don’t know who won the Elections in 2016 and who is their Legitimate President. President Lungu stole the Election and proceeded to illegally and unconstitutionally naugurate himself in power. Until the Petition is heard, determined and the Winner is declared by the Court Lungu remains an illegitimate President. Instead of Lungu talking about ICC, Zambians want to know when the Petition will be heard and disposed off? We look to AU and SADC to resolve the Petition and the Illegitimacy Issue. Ecowas has inspired Zambians for what they did in Gambia. It is now SADC’s turn to ECOWAS the Petition in Zambia. Period.
Rubbish get a life foolish you
Lungu is not telling the Nation the Truth becoz he committed attrocities in Zambia and fears to be prosecuted. Lungu thinks that by pulling out Zambia the Petition will finally die. This wont happen and very soon the Petition will be against his wishes. After the Gambia Case Study which showed Ecowas’ heroics SADC is under pressure to bring the Petition process in Zambia to a close. This could be a disaster for Lungu given that he stole the Election and is illegally and unconstitutionally clinging to power. To hear the Petition is suicidal while defying SADC and AU might attract an Ecowas solution to Disputed Election in Africa. Lungu is between a Rock and a hard place.
ICC is useless. Everyone knows it is meant for Africans. Why can’t the US go there for crimes in Syria?
IT IS IN AFRICA WHERE PRESIDENTS CLING TO LEADERSHIP. CAN BA LUNGU TELL US WHERE ELSE DID THE ICC FORGOT TO REACT WHEN THE PRESIDENTS CONTINUED TO BE PRESIDENT WHEN THEIR TERM OFFICE ELLAPSED OR WHEN THEY WERE VOTED OUT BUT STAYED ON LIKE WHAT WE HAVE RECENTLY SEEN IN ZAMBIA AND GAMBIA?
Why can’t Edgar Lungu emulate Mwanawasa who banned cadres from escorting him to and from the airport every time he is flying out or in, IRS so unproductive to see hordes of cadres and officials lining up for a handshake, not to mention those old women who sing and dance for him. May be these are the 500,000 jobs he promised to create.
And the Barotseland Post reports:
“LUNYA LWA KAUNDA: Barotseland’s Black Book Page Two
Kenneth Kaunda assured the King of Barotseland, Sir Mwanawina III, that the Zambian government would not interfere in the day to day running of Barotseland, but later went on to strip the king of his powers
BAROTSELAND POST EDITORIAL COMMENT, 22nd JANUARY 2017
‘Lunya lwa muso wa Kaunda’ is the Lozi phraseology the late Barotseland prime minister Rt Hon. Maxwell Mututwa chose to define Kenneth Kaunda and his government’s wickedness against the Barotseland government because, to most Lozi people, Kaunda is a double faced conniving diabolical schemer whose singular goal after Zambia’s independence was to obliterate Barotseland from the face of the earth if it were possible. The Bulozi prime…
Why is he scared of ICC if he has not done anything worthy ICC’s attention? Only the guilty are scared! He has now openly admitted that he screwed Zambians over our elections, hence his idea of fleeing from ICC! ICC or no ICC, a thief is still a thief, and must face justice!
we know that those who are supporting to leave the icc are the beneficiaries of these corrupt governments and and infact part and parcel of these useless regimes . we want accountabilities , cos it means any one who comes in power must do the right things for the people viva icc , we too want the zambian petition to be heard and concluded properly if not taken to icc.