President Lungu’s revelations and criticism against Judges has not broken any law and must be viewed as a demand for the independence, dignity and effectiveness of the Judiciary, Says The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza.
And YALI says, while, like many other actors, values the independence of the judiciary, it also believes the judiciary is not beyond criticism.
In a media statement released today, Mr Mwanza has revealed that after a careful examination of remarks made by President Lungu in Solwezi on Thursday, November 3, 2017, YALI has found nothing wrong.
“After a careful examination of remarks made by President Lungu, our conclusion is that the President Lung’s revelations and criticism against Judges has not broken any law and must be viewed as a demand for the independence, dignity and effectiveness of the Judiciary as they adjudicate in the 2021 eligibility case in accordance with Article 122 (4),” he said
Meanwhile, YALI has called on President Lungu to urgently appoint the remaining 5 Judges of the Constitutional Court in accordance with Article 127 (c).
Republican President Edgar Chagwa Lungu while in Solwezi on Thursday, November 3, 2017 urged judges to be wary of what transpired in Kenya and avoid experimenting. The statement raised controversy regarding a pending decision of the Constitutional Court on whether he qualifies to stand in 2021 or not.
Mr Mwanza added that President as Head of State and Government, as per Article 91 (1), was within the law to render an opinion and counsel to the Judiciary.
“Article 118 clause 1 of the Zambian Constitution demands for judicial authority to be exercised in a just manner which promote accountability. It is our position therefore that judicial independence is a commodity which must be valued and granted to Judges and judicial officers who are accountable,” he said
“President Lungu’s demands for thoroughness among Judges ought to be viewed as a recognition of challenges on the bench…The President’s call for thoroughness could, in fact, save the Judges from any future embarrassment of being reported to the Judicial Complaints Commission, where some were found inconsistent and inexperienced, in so far, as handling the presidential petition was concerned”
He has urged citizens to welcome the President’s counsel to Judges if the Constitutional Court were accused of having been biased and easily influenced by external forces.
Wako ni wako!
If the results of the last presidential election are a barometer of any candidates’ popularity it means HH and ECL are close. That being the case can we assume therefore that even if the con court rules against Lungu there will he no chaos just like there was no chaos after the arrest of Hikainde? So why would lungu claim there will he chaos what does he mean? Thankfully zambia has not pulled out of the ICC. Two names for lungu to bear in mind Gbagbo and Taylor! Lungu can threaten our judges but he cannot threaten Bensouda. A third term nonsense is what eventually destroys arrogant men ask Titus Mpundu.
The young punks fighting to kiss the dictator’s stinking arsse. A child still on breast milk would know without straining her/his brain that lungu was directly threatening the judges.
Lungu and HH are both cowards who think that Zambia belongs to the two of them. The two are out of touch with reality and they ought to be ashamed of themselves. They are both scare mongers who have to be ignored with the contempt they deserve. HH said there will be Armageddon if he loses election and now his cousin Jonathan is saying that there will be chaos if he’s adopted in 2021. Who the hell do the two think they are? Lungu shut it HH shut it.
Lungusha can not get anything without applying crooked means…in his katemba law firm, he was a con man squandering client’s monies, came PF convention after the demise of Sata, he used pangas and confusion to ascertain to the top. Then came 2015 elections, he manged to ring with the help of that hopeless former president called Bwezani. Came 2016, it was all systems go, use violence, intimidate opponents, steal ballot papers from opponents and bury them in grave yards…inflate figures using M7 boys. Came the petition, again he used crooks method to trample on it. If you were to investigate properly, even that Law degree from UNZA, u would discover that it came through Umwembeshi and pragmatism. And now here comes the question on his eligibility to stand in 2021, his shushus have…
YALI is being probed for stolen money from UK, in the main headlines above.
Is YALI seeking salvation from state house?
Lungu should be stressing for the ruling to follow the constitution as he did regarding the petition…why is he warning judges of danger if they base their ruling on the constitution ???
THIS IS ONE OF THE ORGANISATIONS THAT STOLE OUR (BRITISH) MONEY DURING THE LAST ELECTIONS. THEY ARE PARTY OF THE PF RIGGING MACHINE
Am yet to see an African man or party who will concede defeat without making noise and accusing of rigging. Hillary Clinton if she wanted could’ve fought trump because there was valid evidence that she worn but chose to preserve the American values. An African will fight even for more than 4 years. Someone was asked whether he going to continue crying for the lost elections for 5 years and he looked poolish in the eyes of the interviewer.
That is the curse that has come with democracy in Africa. Even incumbents when losing start crying of irregularities like in Liberia.
Stupid and very *****ic of you YALI folks.No laws broken but its still improper ,unethical and against good governance regardless.
No laws broken? How about being unethical, inappropriate and stinking of bad governance for the executive to interfere with an independent judiciary?
According to the ICIJ website, Hichilema became a director of a Bermuda company, AfNat Resources Ltd, in March 2006, and he resigned that August, according to Appleby’s records.
AfNat Resources was incorporated in 2005 and explored for nickel and other metals in Zambia and other African countries.
It was listed on London’s alternative investment market until 2010 when it was purchased by Canadian mining company Axmin for about $14 million.
The website further notes that Hichilema declined to answer questions from ICIJ, including about his roles as AfNat Resources director. There is nothing illegal about a company registered in Bermuda, Hichilema allegedly told ICIJ by phone.
Source: The Mast Zambia November 6, 2017.
And? What are you insinuating? To scared to kiss smelly Endemic Corrupt Leader arsse in public?
Yali executives have had failed NGO’s before because of accountability.
I am not surprised that they are singing praises to f**Lish threatening statements made by lungu against the judiciary.
Since when did lungu notice that the judiciary are crooked. He cooked the con court judges during his fake presidential reelection now his sensing danger hence warnings.
Leave judiciary alone not all are corrupt like you lungu.
1.Lungu threatened the judiciary not counsel as you claim yali.
2.if the judiciary is independent how did lungu know some judges want to copy and paste the Kenyan verdict.
3.the matter before the courts concern lungu standing so why is he interfering in the case that’s contempt.
The law is clear on contempt and should be followed.
This president is a fake follower, a fake humble man, a fake Christian, a fake crook and is just a thief.
…how did the president know some judges want to copy and paste Kenyan verdict??? You do realise we have an intelligence system in Zambia that reports to the Commander-in-Chief, right?? Your understanding of governance is deeply flawed and extremely shallow!!!
When you are found with kabila, muswati, Robert mugabe, museveni and Paul kagame.
What can you learn, democracy!
Big No…. Only tenets of dictatorship and corruption.
Africa is littered with little dictators,
What is happening in Zambia is not special it has happened before and else where.
Imprisonment of political opponents, media clamp down, state brutality, courts under siege, dubious application and interpretation of laws, president’s extending there terms in office illegally.
That’s why you see these little dictators always on the move, exchanging notes on dictatorship.how to oppress the citizens and system.
How many democratic president’s in Zambia have cried that the western imperialist want change of Governments in Africa. Those singing this propaganda about imperialist are the same little dictators.
How many times has headman of Upnd tribe broken this “law”?