Minister of Justice Given Lubinda has said that government has now received a copy of the Constitutional Court judgment ordering ministers that remained in office after the dissolution of Parliament to pay back monies that they were paid during that period.
Mr. Lubinda said that the judgment is being studied before government comes up with a position.
Mr. Lubinda said that many issues will have to be considered in arriving at a position over the court’s ruling, noting that the affected ministers rendered a service.
Mr. Lubinda has told ZNBC news in Lusaka that the PF administration will always respect the separation of powers being the three arms of government while entrenching the independence of the judiciary.
And Mr. Lubinda has said that there is no active presidential petition before any court in Zambia and has since challenged the opposition UPND leadership to explain to Zambians the basis of their claim that there is still a pending presidential petition in court.
Mr. Lubinda said that Zambians are free to comment on the matter because the case is no longer before the courts of law.
Mr. Lubinda said that as Minister of Justice he feels duty bound to put the record straight in the face of misrepresentation by some UPND leaders.
An executive branch of government is challenging the decision by the Judiciary branch of government.
To tell the Concourt that the Ministers worked during the period so it justifies them not paying back is like telling the Judge that arrest you the I was hungry when I stole food in the Supermarket so I don’t deserve to go to jail. That is not only ignorance of the law, but a complete lack of understanding of the separation of Powers. A lesson that Given Lubinda and his Executive took in Grade 9 Civics class.
Studying cat movements is rendering service to rats to enter mu npoto.
What are you studying and what position you want to take.
J.U.S.T P A Y BACK WHAT YOU ILLEGALLY TOOK.
You never took a position, when it came to misuse of office, now you want to take a position, what for? Just buying time.
“Mr. Lubinda said that many issues will have to be considered in arriving at a position over the court’s ruling, noting that the affected ministers rendered a service.”
@ Lombe (MA) you’re right, a convicted thief over a court ruling protests that the judge in arriving at the verdict to jail him forgot to consider that hunger was the underlying factor which led to stealing the food!
Laz, attornel general and legal minds advised ECL before parliament dissolved that ministers must vacate their offices but they were arrogant and chose to steal treasury. ECL is doing the same on 3rd term even when the law is clear that he is not qualified to stand.
Ni koswe mumpoto
There we go again, lungu and gang of corrupt looters wanting to twist the law again……any opportunity for these people to steal , they go for it…..
Your day of reckoning is surely but near. This cantankerous attitude is beyond human comprehension, full of I don’t care mind set thinking that the status quo will prolong. it’s amazing how politicians behave when they have some temporary power. They rendered a service or they plundered national resources and gained undue advantage over their opponents? In developed countries their seats will be nullified as well. An ignorant brat for a Justice Minister, shame.
Lubinda doesn’t understand Law. The offending Ministers committed a crime by using State Resources to campaign for themselves and for their Party,PF. The Zambian Constitution requires these Ministers to be disqualified as MPS and as Ministers. Apart from repaying the money the Ministers under a Responsible President would have been forced to resign as Ministers. With Koswe Mumpoto at the helm these Ministers will get away with murder. With the Wind of change blowing in Southern Africa Koswe Mumpoto’s days in Power are numbered. Mugabe is gone, Khama is retiring soon and Jacob Zuma is likely to be recalled in 2018. The illegitimate Koswe Mumpoto’s future in Power looks dim.
I think as of now, zambia is the best country in the world to be a successful thief because you can steal and break the law, analyze a court verdict against you, justify your crime and refuse to abide by the sentence because according to you the theft had merit! Gospel according to the minister of injustice
Ati they rendered a service: He reminds me of the guys who start washing you car without being told to and them ati boss tasebenza.
“…the judgment is being studied before government comes up with a position……”
They don’t deserve any sympathy because they knew and were advised to vacate office.
They have no respect for the rule of law; these Pests Family(PF)rats
“Mr. Lubinda said that the judgment is being studied before government comes up with a position.”
Only in Zambia do you see arrogant Politicians behave in this manner when it comes to paying back hard-earned people’s PAYE money!!
You must know appointing lubinda , a non lawyer to head the justice ministry was a calculated move by the corrupt lungu………lubinda is just agreeing to everything lungu asks as he is clueless about the intricacies of the law……..
The government espouses rule of law , well the law has given a decision, so follow the law.
If there is no parliament, dissolved for elections, then by simple logic there cannot be members of parliament.
Providing a service doesnt come into because they had no “job”.
We have the Commonwealth negotiator in zambia, we want IMF funding and what are we doing not following rule of law by not accepting the decision of the court which correctly interpreted the constitution.
We have no credibility and then we employ chinese nationals in our police reserve.
Zambia, the unreal nation
When lungu was assuming power I read about his defrauding a widow, I had doubts about his suitability but thought the man had seen the light , but when he became president and would breakout into spountenous dancing at airports and other public places, I knew, ooooo Zambia is in trouble……totaly wrong character for plot one……very corrupt individual….
Not presidential material at all.
Koswe mumpoto when parliament disolved. All the relish was eaten with impunity. How then do some people say the new song is not in good taste when injustice minister wants to study and manipulate what legal brains have said? He is neither a lawyer or a judge but a misplaced minister. Ba Koswe mumpoto were misled by the president who misinterpreted the law to suit himself as chief Koswe mumpoto.
I wonder what kind of government leaders we have in power?? why cant they pay and avoid embarrassment later. when there will be change of government they will have a lot of things to pay for. so when people assume high positions in government they also stop to think???
They are citizens and have recourse to the same law which is full of lacunas. You wait and see as the courts will soon be overwhelmed with individual law suits. Put your hatred aside and watch this space.
Studying the judgement before government comes up with a position!!! What position? The only correct position is to work out the modalities of paying back the money so it can pay meal allowances for CBU students
You see, the Court, constitutional or otherwise, is like a referee in a football match. Its decision is deemed binding even if it may be faulty. So the ConCourt’s decision may not be necessarily correct and can be contested in court in a personal capacity.
WHICH POSITION ? THESE ARE THE PEOPLE WE HAVE ENTRUSTED WITH THE AFFAIRS OF RUNNING THE NATION CALLED ZAMBIA. ONLY WHEN IT SUITS THEM ,THEY DONT STUDY THE DOCUMENTS. HEY WHAT A SHAME .ZAMBIA BELONGS TO ALL PEOPLE NOT JUST A FEW SELFISH INDIVIDUALS. HON MINISTER PLEASE THERE IS NO NEGOTIANS HERE .JUST PAY FULL STOP . MUNSHEBWA AILE NA FIMO FIMO ……