Government has said that it is dismayed by sentiments from the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) which criticises President Edgar Lungu for the statement he made on the Judiciary.
In a statement released to the media this evening, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Ms Kampamba Mulenga said that there was no statement from the President that appear to threaten the Judiciary.
Below is the full statement
STATEMENT BY THE MINISTER OF INFORMATION AND BROADCASTING SERVICES AND CHIEF GOVERNMENT SPOKESPERSON, HON. KAMPAMBA MULENGA,MP ON THE LAZ STATEMENT ISSUED TODAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2017
Government is dismayed by sentiments from the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) which criticise His Excellency the President, Mr Edgar Chagwa Lungu for the statement he made on the Judiciary.
LAZ claim the statement “appears” to threaten the Judiciary against making any adverse ruling against President Lungu in the impending judgment on whether President Lungu is eligible to stand in 2021.
LAZ further purports to call on the President to retract the statement he made on Thursday at Solwezi Airport.
Government is concerned that a respected professional body could base their statement on stories being peddled by the media without clarification with the source.
In their statement, LAZ have not made any specific reference to a particular part of the President’s speech to show that the President indeed threatened the Judiciary.
This is not a coincidence. It is simply because there is no such statement that appears to threaten the Judiciary.
Article 122(4) of the Republican Constitution, empowers the President or indeed any person or a person holding a public office to protect the independence of the judiciary so that it does not act on the basis of adverse external influences. It provides as follows:
122(4) a person and a person holding a public office shall protect the independence, dignity and effectiveness of the judiciary.
In the issue at hand, the President provided caution to the judges to act independently with dignity and effectiveness in the manner they discharged their duties. This is evident even in the LAZ statement when they referred to a portion of the speech where the President called on the judiciary to act without fear or favour.
It is, therefore, absurd that while LAZ acknowledge the President’s call on the judiciary to act without fear or favour, in the same breath they purport that the President “appeared” to threaten the judiciary.
Government calls upon LAZ to be the voice of jurisprudence and not to be embroiled in the day-to-day politicking.
Government further challenges LAZ to dissect the President’s address line by line and come to a fair conclusion on the matter.
LAZ were being speculative in their attack on the President and that does not resonate well with their standing as a professional body.
Perhaps it is LAZ who should retract their statement and contextualize the address by the President.
Government agrees that the President has a duty to protect the independence, dignity and effectiveness of the judiciary in accordance with Article 122(4), and President Lungu, who is a lawyer, knows this and has never and will never perform acts that would go against this vow.
The Executive, the Judiciary, and the Legislature are all expected to respect, uphold and safeguard the Republican Constitution; promote democracy, enhance the unity of the nation; promote and protect the rights and freedoms of a person; and uphold the rule of law in accordance with Article 91 of the Constitution of Zambia.
Everyone is dismayed. It is important that everyone sticks to their lanes or else accidents will happen.
Jonathan has lost the plot.
The Bible says the wicked flee when no one is chasing them.
Jonathan is a total waste of space who wants to be worshipped.
This chap is corrupt and not even ashamed of it.
Disgusting douchebag.
What’s so difficult about 2021? This should not be a topic for now let’s work first then we will choose depending in the performance of Lungu
Why are people afraid of 2021and threatening about 2021? ,, we have issues to deal with now,,,zambia is third hungrist country in world,,, in other words zambia has a bronze medal ku world cup ya njala,,, stop this nonsense of 2021,you can die before then
If her face is anything to go by. Its a lousy reaction!
@wisdom – why dont you refer that question to the selfsame sponsored group that refered this case to Concourt in the first place!!
If she opens her mouth from an orgasm like that, I would withdraw immediately until 2021.
@Nostradamus – When are you going to grow up?
How did Edgar Lungu graduate law school? Did he go to the same law school as speaker Matibini?These two are examples of not to be a lawyer. They personify mediocrity, backwardness and primitivity!
I do not see Lungu Chaima Jonathan escaping from his demons of STEALING FROM THE UNSUSPECTING CLIENT, as I understand it a woman who trusted him. Lungu Jonathan has since not reformed and has continued his deceptive ventures now inflicting the Zambians the same in his Chagwa Chawama style. Well watch this episode we are now seeing Lungu the goner. Forget 2021, the man is going sooner than that. Not by death but by a very historical way Zambia has never seen before. Chagwa Chaima or whatever you want to call him won’t be running Zambia with his little fist because he has betrayed everyone’s trust and dug his own hole by not reforming (so called humble man) when he had a chance to. The smaller they come the bigger they FALL.
@Obatala Lungu Graduated from LAW SCHOOL doctored by Symbyakula who has since doctored a Constitution muddled with inconsistencies which Lungu does not agree with. The Zambian Legal brains like the friend of mine Mumba Malila who were fine tuned by Cambridge University will not dare to be anywhere near these.
@Nostradamus you are a poet with a dirty side don’rt withdraw from Kampamba Mulenga stay in there mate.
No doubt Lungu is now aping the late Idi Amin- full blown doctator. I warned you guys.
Kampamba Mulenga, don’t you have anything better to do? …
It seems every political party in government claims to have a DORA SILIYA with sexual innuendos of some sort. This Kampamba Mulenga’s sexualising of politics, as observed by NOSTRADAMUS, by way of making orgasmic rants masqueraded as performing Government Ministerial duties won’t do for me. I just want my real DORA back on Stage. Jonathan Chaima please bring my real DORA back on stage and not replace her by this Kampamba Mulenga who you might have brought with you from Chawama!
“Government further challenges LAZ to dissect the President’s address line by line and come to a fair conclusion on the matter”
DO YOU REALLY EXPECT LAZ TO DISSECT THE PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS LINE BY LINE. ZAMBIANS APPROACH TO READING OR READING CULTURE IS VERY POOR. ZAMBIANS INCLUDING THE SO CALLED LAWYERS DO NOT SIMPLY READ. LAZ MIGHT HAVE JUST HEARD IT FROM A DRUNK TAVERN PATRON TALKING ABOUT THE SPEACH AND TO THEM THAT WAS ENOUGH- NO NEED TO VERIFY AND RUSHED FOR PEN AND PAPER. ZAMBIANS INCLUDING LAWYERS MUST CULTIVATE A CULTURE OF READING. OBVIOUSLY, I WAS ALSO LOOKING FOR A SINGLE LINE OR TWO WHERE ECL SPECIFICALLY INTIMIDATED THE LEGAL SYSTEM. ALAS, LAZ NEVER QUOTED IT.
Circus
HH nearly same words, which Edgar repeated. Shocking.
Today am on Edgar’s side, don’t crucify him.
This lady is a comedian
Kampamba, just eat, steal, & buy lots of p.ants, coz, when Jona is out of Plot 1, he won’t be defending You but himself, & it will be DOG EAT DOG!!
Laz , isolate the words from the president `s speech which pin points the intimidations of the president to the judiciary. speculative statements from such a noble organ as yours is the most un professional and least expected of you.. Mulenga has quoted the part of the law that allows any person holding office to protect the intergrity of the judiciary. speculative judgements from the law association can be more dangerous than dictatorship itself , because it is incompetence and innocent people will suffer for crimes they have not committed.
Rumours is the hallmark of some opposition. Too bad even LAZ is reacting without facts!
So ninshi you two geniuses did not read verbatim what that dull twat Lungu was yapping ku airport batini??
MY FRIEND, YOU ARE EXPECTING TOO MUCH FROM LAZ ASKING THEM TO QUOTE THE LINE OR LINES OF ECL SPEACH. THEY SIMPLY DON’T KNOW. LIMBI BALIKOLWA PA SHABEENI EPO BALELEMBELA ARTICLE.
Ignore this marketeer Sharon Kampamba!!
I WILL NOT IGNORE HER UNTILL LAZ BECOMES FACTUAL IN THEIR WRITING. AS LONG AS THEY REMAIN, NOT- MULENGA KAMPAMBA COMES ACROSS AS MORE INTELLIGENT THAN LAZ, I AM AFRAID.
Jonathan and sharon are correct. The rest of us,including LAZ misunderstood the statement from Jonathan.
hahahahaha. I agree.
I think there is too much abuse of alcohol in this government. I fail to understand how a sober person can respond in this manner. Nasheniko Jameson please
THE CONSTITUTION IS THE CLEAR ON THE PRESIDENTIAL TERMS. THE ONLY THING PF CAN DO IS IDENTIFY POTENTIAL LEADERS WHO WILL TAKE OVER FROM MR LUNGU IN 2021. KALABA FOR PRESIDENT RUNNING MATE EDITH NAWAKWI RUNNING MATE
Kampamba’s statement doesn’t make sense. You mean she didn’t watch ZNBC news to see him actually making the statement!!! What is she talking about???? This statement sounds like it was written by Sunday Chanda.
@MyZambia,what did he say,some us missed it!
The-judges in Kenya have got blood on their hands.
Nullifying an election based on assumptions is rubbish!Tey annuled the election based on illegalities which they did not specify in their judgement.Laughable
Comment: Kaseba says “impeach him” then what is the opposition waiting for? Impeach the criminal!
Arguing with the current PF cadres is a waste of time. Genuine PF members are agrieved with what is happening in their party. The current PF is a cartel of corupt criminals headed by Lungu and his henchmen who have hijacked late Sata’s vision to rape and plunder Zambia’s economy. Just look at the plunder in the latest Auditors General’s report. Can any genuine PF member be happy that things are well in the country? Corruption is at it’s highest while ACC is at it’s lowest. Why is 2021 so crucial to Lungu and his henchmen to the extent of spying on the judges. How did Lungu know that some judges were planning to be adventurous? As Zambians let’s support and protect our judiciary from these criminals who pretend to love our country as the plunder our resources. It’s our last hope.
These people have no integrity an absolute utter disgrace!!
Support the judiciary and your leader HH insults them everytime a judgement is not in his favour!
If you let the judges to be too loose they can plunge the country into chaos!
Should they make a stupid judgement just because the ***** judges in Kenya made a wrong judgement?
When chaos erupts in this country the judges will be part of imbutushi.
This country is too divided to allow some judges to be adventurous.
He told them he has information of which judges and they know themselves.
We will not allow Zambia to go up in flames .Awe twakana.
PF administration has open a can of worms!
Kenya has lost it
Kenya has opened a nice can of worms now reverberating accross Africa.Accountability of public officials will only deepen from this great ruling by Kenyan justices.
Kenya is Mumatuvi because of overzealousness.
The MINISTER LOOKS VERY UGLY ON THIS PHOTO CAN WE CHANGE AS TO LINK THE STORY, THIS MINISTER IS THE MOST BEAUTIFUL CABINET MINISTER WE HAVE AS OUR REAL ZAMBIAN BEAUTY AS A LEADER
People power is what is lacking in Zambia. The President has no regards for constitutional matters, hence he did not respect the constitution post elections appear. We the public has never demand a statement from him on that aspect. He has continued on the same pathway knowingly he as absolute power.
Until such a time when we the general population show these politicians that we employ them, they will keep using us as stepping stones and will continue to have over half the population living in abject poverty.
A well meaning leadership should never have been preoccupied with 2021 election when the country is suffering. Poverty levels, street kids , its had when you are in Zambia. People are so selfish and don’t care about others.
LAZ is run by a political incompetent woman, a sorry sight and representation of poor caliber of lawyers we have who join the profession for a name rather than substance. It is a political tool for a failed party called UPND.
The President is a lawyer who graduated with a distinction from the Law School of UNZA. He is I think one of the only two to get that distinction from UNZA! You cheap guys here who are representatives of Namwala want to smear him every day! Your man will never be a president in Zambia! Get ready for installation of Paramount Chief HH of the Namwala people soon!
Why was his law licence revoked by LAZ if he is a distinction?
@spaka of dundumwezi: ECL was accused of chewing a widow’s money. Naturally in Zambia, you are innocent until proven guilty, you have the right to defend yourself. ECLs licence was suspended but he successfully defended himself and got his licence back. This story you keep parroting is a waste of time. Much like your party upnd, you have no workable strategies to inspire voters. You have been embarrassed again by ECL!!! Chimbwi no plan party!!
Did his “graduation with distinction” include conviction for embezzlement?
@ Zambian Citizen:
Endemically Corrupt Leader whom you identify as ECL was CONVICTED by the High Court of Zambia for EMBEZZLING clients money. THAT IS FACT and no amount of buttering from you and anybody can alter his CONVICTION. As he defaulted to his undertaking to pay back money in installments, he was taken back to answer the same charge and this time he returned full amount. He DID NOT “…successfully defended himself…”.
@ Zambian Citizen:
As to “returning of his practicing licence”, please be advised to check. His licence was returned to him when he was elected in 2015. As a matter of FACT, he may be remembered as ONLY Minister of Justice who was serving whilst suspended.
Please, stop this crapping and inventing the stories. Your “ECL” WAS CONVICTED BY THE COURT OF LAW. If you want and if you can afford, please make search at the High Court of Zambia (Civil Jurisdiction).
Iwe Sharon,stop lying,Chagwa did not get a distinction.He was in the same class with Winter Kabimba.Which distinction mwe bantu
@kbf: “as ECL was CONVICTED by the High Court of Zambia for EMBEZZLING clients money. ” just this statement displays how shallow your understanding of governance is. How does a convict stand for public office?? You, sir are brainwashed.
No wonder Singapore and now Rwanda have left Zambia behind developmentally cuz we put 2021 politics ahead while they envision year 2021 development goals.
Let Mushota just come back mwe! honestly who is this girl talkin. just from make up you can tell she is better suited in a nigerian movie
we need somebody serious like mushota at plot one driving eagle one
When he was interviewed by Stephen Sackur under5 gave the impression of someone who has absolute faith in the constitution and the judiciary. And yet not too long ago, 4 weeks ago in fact, he insulted the same judiciary as corrupt, not even incompetent but CORRUPT. Today he goes to London, melts before a white journailst, and all of a sudden he starts believing in the judiciary. Under5 really contradicts himself, like I have always said, under5 has the unbeatable propensity of always shooting himself in the foot at critical times…..kikikikikiki
The topic at hand is bigger than your silly HH
Is it under 5 we are talking about or Jonathan…dont be like lusambo
And you Gary Nkombo, stop walking out of parliament like headless pigs, under5 will always beat himself before he is beaten comprehensively at the polls.
Corruptly at the polls
@Terribe! how far have you gone in your education. may be we might just sympathize with you instead of condemning you.
…and i said it, LAZ which mislead us on the enactment of article 31 has let us down again. Kampamba who is not a lawyer xan draw power from Article 122 and she is ably informed. But LAZ chooses to base their statement on media reports??? Disgusting…
Like the other MP who asked a question in parliament based on social media reports1Yaba we chalo chesu
What is LAZs agenda??? Whose interest do they serve?? The Zambian people or known political interests??? Kelvin Sampa, reboot your plan, please.. .
Why do you bother even changing your name terrible?
@ Jay Jay
Like that he pretends that there are at least two 1mbeciles in Zambia
Kampamba, nkashi yandi, mukwayi walasa!!! Thank you for your well informed response.
You are a sick cader what kind of person with half an intellect can epitomize this woman???
Hello government, you didn’t have to respond. Government spokesman doesn’t mean Lungu or government’s defender at any cost. After all Lungu has his own vuvuzela, some small guy going by the name Chandra who makes as much noise as Miss Government Spokesperson.
According to PF that tremor was not a tremor it was thunder,signs of rains coming after the prayers and fasting,according to PF
That was the speech in Solwezi copied from BBC: Addressing his supporters in the north-west, Mr Lungu said:
To my colleagues in the judiciary, my message is just do your work, interpret the law without fear or favour and look at the best interest of this country. Don’t become a copycat and think that you are a hero if you plunge this country into chaos.
I want to close by saying that those people who don’t like peace and freedom will say President Lungu is intimidating the courts of law. I am not intimidating the judiciary. I am just warning you because I have information that some of you want to be adventurous. Your adventure should not plunge us into chaos, please.
People are saying Zambian courts should emulate Kenyan courts… People are saying Zambian courts should be brave and…
The battlegrounds for 2021 elections have been drawn; there is no neutral position, you either a foot soldier of imperialism like HH or you will defend the Zambia’s sovereignty like ECL. Zambian voters must refuse to be used by HH in becoming accomplices in their own recolonization. Outsiders have been meddling in the internal affairs of China, financing, training and even arming its ‘opposition’. Look at the narrative of the outsiders over Tibet, as well as their mostly internationalist approach towards Africa. HH and UPND have accepted to be conduits of recolonization. Will the Zambian people let them sell Zambia’s soul?
Absolutely the battlegrounds have been set, either one is for a sophisticated small group of vicious, blood sucking plunders in control and riding on the name of PF which in reality has become a Personal Fiefdom (PF) of a few imperial black Zambians but who are so shameless and rather than deal with their own imperial traits want to conveniently disatract the gullible Zambians with cheap nationalistic and patriotic lies. Zambias enemies are those who oen the Personal Fiefdom (PF)
Teachers of English and my learned lawyer friends, let’s unpack this statement sentence by sentence. I need clarity of the intention of the statement because I am confused after reading and listening to it many time. Awe ici ichisungu ca mpita!! Please napapata help!!
times..oops
The guilty are always afraid. Kampamba Mulenga and Kateka Lungu are intimidating the judiciary. Even president Lungu’s youngest grand child can read the mind of the president.
Let the court operate independently. If not illigible out and let others rule in Jesus name. President Lungu is not Zambia, Zambia will still stand beyond his presidency and God has in his store room future presidents with integrity to take the mantle of leadership. No fuss about the ruling, no intimidations abd no chaos from PF we refuse your thurgery behaviour. Kampyongo and Lusambo MUST behave.
What is intimidating about a statement. ..to act without fear or favour.
What is intimidating about a statement. ..to act in favour of Zambians
What is intimidating about a statement. ..to uphold and apply professionalism to their duties.
The president has intelligence reports about a named judge who wants to act for the sake of being seen that he is bigger than zambia and ecl is reminding him to be professional. This judge is being influenced by a known politician and that’s why politicians are the first to defend him…..continue. ..
Judiciary is independent of executive and parliament. Why is nkombo jumping out from parliament to go and speak on behalf of another govt organ which has its own mouth piece. Kampamba has asked laz to put in context the claims that ecl was intimidating the judiciary otherwise mere speculation and acting based on zwd reports won’t help them. Social media has a tendency of perverting stories and that’s why veep refused to be drawn to such debates coming from Social media reports.
And according to your pea-size d1ck brain, spaying on the Judiciary without Court Order is acceptable?
What does the constitution of the Republic say! do not be misguided sir!
I see NO intimidation.
When judges want to go off-line they must be told so that they know that their ill intentions are known.
Edger has the right to warn judiciary, because he knows they are compromised politically and some of them inclined to the opposition. There is a need to start detailed investigations on individual judges and fire those who are politically inclined.
An alarmist in the name of Jonathan Chaima is not welcome. Does he have chaotic plans or where does he hallucinates his chaos would come from? As Zambians, we have never had chaos due to a court ruling.
Okay! Dont be too comfortable this country is very divided ,anything is possible.Politicians must win election using the ballot NOT in court.
Odinga knew he was going to lose the ordered election by the courts so he decided to withdraw and he goes to get innocent people killed!Why didnt he go to riot with his family?
PF under Lungu and his cadres like this woman are just evil to Zambia and Zambia is doomed under PF;
2021 seems to be all that these people are thinking of. They have forgotten the poor, the homeless, the street kids, the widows, the widowers, the hungry, those with no running water, proper toilets….we are a Christian nation for heaven sake so why can’t we act like one? All we are thinking about is the power over people….do not soil this land that God has given us. This is the promised land! Now do your work and stop being stupid like small kids in the play ground!
I wonder what the LAZ is there for when they cannot seat and analyse rather that purport that whatever that lady says is the final stance or opinion. The association means more than one lawyer and are we saying all are of the opinion expressed by one lawyer? This is tantamount to judging a book by the cover. You have to find out in what context that which you are dismayed with came about. A verse is not the whole book.
The EXISTENCE of Article 122(4) of the Republican Constitution is different from the IMPLEMENTATION of the same Article 122(4). I know that myself.
HH called the honourable members of the bar all sorts of names, and LAZ never said anything to defend its members. Hypocrisy at its best.
There are so many verbal axes and grenades that get thrown at HH and UPND you sometimes wonder if they are the ones in government. You can throw as many as you want on HH but it does not make you a better person. Tbe hypocrisy of some of our guys in the diaspora is not only deceitful but shameful, you have people some who came as illegal immigrants calling the country that tbey came into illegally and voluntarily as imperialists yet these are the countries that have provided you with a livelihood when the politicians you support are the very reason you are an economic migrant. Africans are dying on the Mediterranean sea to get to the very same imperialists, how ironic? Learn to be honest and factual.
There is one thing I have learnt in life, those that tend to direct negative remarks on other people are not as being as personal as we might think, tbey are merely projecting their own feelings of failure in their own lives.
A revelation by President Lungu that some Judges are conspiring to emulate a disastrous route pursued by Kenyan Judges is a serious matter for Zambia and the SADC region. Most judicial systems in the world display the emblem of a “BALANCE” – signifying discharge of balanced Court decisions. Yet Kenyan Judges skewed their judgement to project bravery, but actually set the nation into turmoil to endanger Kenyans lives – including judges who are contemplating to flee to Europe or USA. We can also pick lessons from the influx of Congolese into Zambia. The revelation of unscrupulous judges in Zambia suggests that money has exchanged hands. In order to secure peace in Zambia and the SADC region, the evil plan MUST BE NIPPED in the BUD by setting up a COMMISSION of ENQUIRY NOW.
MESSAGE FOR INSTIGATORS OF REGIME CHANGE
Western powers thrived on engineering coups in Africa for the joy of witnessing hardships on the plight of Africans from a safe distance. They created Bin Laden for the Middle East. Selected countries in the SADC have been targeted for regime change. But priming coups and regime change has now boomeranged on Europe and USA.
Former British Premier, Mr. Brown has confessed that military attacks on Iraq were based on misinformation. Western powers have now realised that the majority of Africans are basically rural dwellers whereas their investments are concentrated in urban areas. Disruption of peace in Africa merely kills their own investments. BREXIT events have rekindled British interest to trade in Southern Africa. USA is exploring connections…
It is an eye opener to learn that Former British Premier, Mr. Brown has confessed that military attacks on Iraq were based on misinformation. Western powers have now realised that the majority of Africans are basically rural dwellers whereas their investments are concentrated in urban areas. Disruption of peace in Africa merely kills their own investments. BREXIT events have rekindled British interest to trade in Southern Africa. USA is exploring connections with Asian states.
In a nutshell a requisite for international trade is peace. Yet NGOs known to instigate chaos in Africa are based in European Capital Cities and South Africa under the watch of FBI, Scotland Yard/MI5 etc – and General Obasanjo is their useful tool in planning havoc in Kenya, Zambia, South Africa and Zimbabwe…
In a nutshell a requisite for international trade is peace. Western powers are thus challenged to nurture peace and not chaos Africa if they care for the security of their investments in Africa.