Pressure has begun to mount on Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima to withdraw the suspension slapped on renowned Constitutional Lawyer John Sangwa.
On Friday, the Judiciary through its Acting Registrar Prince Boniface Mwiinga announced the suspension of Mr Sangwa from appearing before any court until further notice.
But the America Bar Association has charged that the suspension of Mr. Sangwa without a hearing raises serious due process and freedom of expression concerns.
The Association wrote on Twitter that Mr. Sangwa has been a strong critic of proposed Constitutional amendments and has publicly questioned qualifications of appointed judges.
It says the UN Basic Principles on Lawyers stipulates that lawyers like other citizens are entitled to freedom of expression and to take part in matters of public interest.
“International standards also provide that only in exceptional circumstances must a lawyer be immediately suspended,” it said.
And UN Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Diego García-Sayán said he strongly condemns the blatant violations of human rights against Mr Sangwa.
“Lawyers must be independent and preserve his lawyer’s professional and intellectual independence with regard to the courts and professional colleagues.”
Meanwhile, the The Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network says it is increasingly concerned at the failure of the ZambianJudiciary under the leadership of Chief Justice Mambilima to follow due process and comply with the right to a fair trial.
The Network said news of disbarring lawyer Mr Sangwa without a hearing come as a shock.
“SAHRDN urges Chief Justice Mambilima to do the right thing and withdraw the wrongful instruction by the registrar on Sangwa which has no legal basis. Otherwise there is a danger of serious loss of confidence by the public in the judiciary which is a threat to the rule of law.”
The Network says an independent and impartial judiciary is a pre-requisite for effective protection of human rights, civic space, strengthening of democracy.
“Not the first time for the ZambianJudiciary to show intolerance to legitimate criticism. Gregory Chifire is in exile after being targeted.
True and very good, we all stand behind Sangwa
UKO pandora box now open. I didn’t know sangwa is this big.
Our democracy is on the cross, sandwiched between authoritarianism and injustice.
Where can we go to get help our courts are the one doing wrong things?Kaya where Zambia is heading!!!
Let’s see how Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima will respond this, even louder criticism of the judiciary that Sangwa’s own criticism of the system! We can sit back and watch this episode unfold in our full view!
Let’s see how Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima responds to this, even louder criticism of the judiciary than Sangwa’s own.. We can sit back and watch this episode unfold in our full view!
Yes all renouned international organisations must chip in against this Dictatorship govt, the judiciary merely succumbed to pressure from state house, in short it is state house that barred SC John Sangwa , unfortunately the regime has no iota of shame
What ever happened to Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima of ECZ?
She became corrupt like PF
She completely lost it, courts under her oversight are now no longer places to seek justice but the opposite. That guy who sang the song of praising her must withdraw the song and retract the lyrics probably with another song.
Every Zambia Lawyer that is worth his name should speak out on this matter.
In effect it’s the entire legal professional reputation that’s being spat on by one failure of a lawyer/politician now
Lawyers Don’t let your country down, it’s time to redeem your reputation as a profession.
What international pressure? Its all in your little imagination. The world is busy trying to fight serious issues like corona virus and the global economic down turn. You think people have time to consider a bought lawyer who lacks integrity. If sangwa has so much international appeal the let him go and practise as international lawyer and leave us in peace. No international body or foreign state can dictate to us how we apply our own laws. Zambia is a sovereign state. Next hh will be in America crying like a lost baby hyena. Jokers!
Anxiously awaiting that moment when you and Lungu will be frequenting courts. Trust me it may take long, but it will surely come
Is Zambia yours alone for you to be doing what ever you want without being questioned? What is you fear?Who ever crisizes you is silenced what kind of governance is this? Anyway we shall wait and see things change!
Corrupt a$$hole just like you blind d0g
Sangwa has just ignited the fire,and now it’s growing big and measures to put it out is by barring him.Third term will not work out for president Lungu
KZ , just like we told IMF 5 years ago that they can go if they want? Fast forward we are rushing back with a begging bowl. Zambia should not be signing these international agreements pela we!
It’s incredibly disappointing to see that even the Judiciary is in Lungu’s large corrupt pockets. What the heck? Where else shall we run to for justice? The very people that are supposed to uphold the law, are the ones unashamedly breaking it. All the Zambian lawyers need to speak up and defend their colleague and their profession, currently being pissed on by corrupt Lungu and his minions. Don’t be scared. Speak up. Lungu and his minions need to stop stifling our freedom of speech.
“Pressure has begun to mount on Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima to withdraw the suspension slapped on renowned Constitutional Lawyer John Sangwa.”
“Meanwhile, the The Southern African Human Rights Defenders Network says it is increasingly concerned at the failure of the ZambianJudiciary under the leadership of Chief Justice Mambilima to follow due process and comply with the right to a fair trial.
The Network said news of disbarring lawyer Mr Sangwa without a hearing come as a shock.
“SAHRDN urges Chief Justice Mambilima to do the right thing and withdraw the wrongful instruction by the registrar on Sangwa which has no legal basis. Otherwise there is a danger of serious loss of confidence by the public in the judiciary which is a threat to the rule of law.”
Targetting the…
Malcolm X once said that when the guardians of the rule of law break the law you are entitled to resort to any means necessary. All lawyers should down their tools in protest. In any case, disciplining erring lawyers is the function of law societies/associations and not the Judiciary. There is no legal basis for the Chief Justice to suspend a lawyer. Courts can only charge a lawyer with contempt of court, but they cannot institute disciplinary proceedings against a lawyer for professional misconduct. If the Judiciary cannot understand and apply simple principles of law there is no hope for justice.
You can think u are untouchable today tormenting people who are fighting for the right thing such as SC Sangwa but time will surely come bane life is dynamic history tells us that their used to be people who killed, tormented innocent souls thinking they were the alpha and omega, but then today they are miserable even the wealth they accumulated vanished in air. When u are in position of leadership be fair and promote love, coz when time for reckoning comes u will be safe dont think that those that are poor are not useful course one day u will surely run to the same people for help. Some of u people will surely one day seek for help from SC Sangwa to defend u in the courts when that time comes mark my words. We used to have people who made noise in Zambia, they thought they owned Zambia…
Targetting the wrong person, I feel pity for the poor Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima. She is just a small fish in the scheme of things. There is nothing that she can do apart from resigning.
Meanwhile, no one in the Judiciary has tried to defend the qualifications of the people on trial here, i.e. the Concourt., thus lending credence to John Sangwa’s facts. I bet they knew all this from day one, but dare not voice out to protect their jobs. Sorry guys, now you have to pay dearly for your cowardice. This issue will not die before it claims heavy casualties.
let her resign
Daft. The US Bar Assocation serves US lawyers and not Zambians. Besides Sangwa had only been suspended. A reflection of his serious misconduct. His suspension letter published earlier on LT, clearly states he will be given a hearing.
It is NOT possible to allow a lawyer to continue practicing with a serious misconduct which has not been aired. The action is correct as an ad hoc solution. The suspension gives him time to reflect on his ridiculous ploy to get cheap self publicity. The esteemed Concourt Judges he has maligned have legitimate Human Rights too.
Only fools like you benefiting will talk like this trying to support thieves…
Please let’s proceed how can we respond to Twitter handles as a Nation…meanwhile life continues… every country has rules and regulations… Sangwa can’t parrot like that against his fellow citizens….
I have always stated that Chagwa’s descent into autocracy will end up very badly for him, mark my word! All the victimization of political opponents and massive wiretapping of Zambians are crimes for which this PF cabal will sooner pay a horrific price for, some people will pay the ultimate price for all this stupidity.
Mambilima is still serving beyond her retirement age which in itself is another illegality in what is supposed to be an honourable Judiciary!
These are Cardinal issues Bill 10 was supposed to be addressing!
This persecution of Sangwa for pointing out wrongs in the Judicial system is good because it will expose hidden skeletons in the entire System!
It remains to be seen if Mambilima will live up to the expectations of Natural Justice! The accused was supposed to be heard before taking any action! Kwena twasebana at international level! Who is going to respect us?
What international pressure?? The Zambian Judiciary, the third arm of the soverign state of our government, has every democratic right to admonish any erring official without consulting any foreign entity or institution. If it’s done according to our laws, which adhere to international and commonwealth laws, it’s within its right. These murmurs are coming from regime change affiliated institutions hell bent on installing a proxy president in plot 1.
Country Men and Women!
Sangwa went publicly to insult his own professional by belittling his colleagues. Do the Concourt judges rights also which Sangwa abused. Parliament consisting of both ruling and opposition mps approved the appointment of those judges. Are they all fools that they could not scrutinize the CVs of the judges or where they paid to be silent. Don’t they have rights? Must Sangwa behave like he is the only constitutional lawyers in Zambia? Are there no ways Mr Sangwa could have done and insult the judges and parliament. Zambians let be patriot in the way we criticize the Chief Justice. Where was LAZ when the judges were selected and take to parliament for rectification? If LAZ did not have biased interest in Sangwa’s behaviour why did they not suspend him for a lesser…
Ba KZ bena awe ba puba! No substance in most of his postings.
KZ,U HAVE POINTED OUT THAT THE WORLD IS FIGHTING CORONER VIRUS WHEN U AND YOUR FRIENDS WANT BILL 10 TO GO AHEAD. THEY ARE SERIOUS ISSUE IN THIS COUNTRY THAN BILL10. I STRONGLY AND SUPPORT SANGWA CZ HE IS SPEAKING FOR US THE WEAK NOT U WHO FEEL HAVE THE LAW BUT ONE DAY IT WILL FIGHT AND EAT U. U ARE AMONG THE PEOPLE WHO THINK U ARE ABOVE THE LAW. SANGWA HAS EXPOSED THEM ALL. THAT IS WHY MHSIIIP MC SATA FIRED ALL THOSE JUDGES WHO WERE CORRUPT. IMAGINE,THEY JAIL SOMEBODY CZ HE IS VULNERABLE AND PEOPLE LIKE KZ GET AWAY WITH IT. PLEASE,TWAPAPATA,LET US HAVE SANITY IN THIS COUNTRY. WE,KNOW U ARE POWERFUL TODAY BUT THINK OF TOMORROW AS WELL BOSS.
THE TRUTH REALLY HURTS!! WHY CAN’T THE SAME ALLEGED UNQUALIFIED JUDGES COME OUT AND DEFEND THEMSELVES? ILIKO BADI
Sangwa is right and absolutely a patriotic Zambian, you can’t just bar him without first laying a charge against him and let him be heard first. This Edgar Lungu is burning Zambia whilst you watching. The Judiciary js dead in Zambia. The cadres have taken over to clinge on power.
Zambia is a sovourighn state need not to bow to international pressure for what? No wonder the same people are playing tricks on us because they have seen how foolish we are,how can you today say we cant copy what other countries are doing but at the same you support what they tell you about the running of your country shame on you useless critics
Please spare John Sangwa he is one of the very few people who is talking for us Zambians. Things are not ok in this country natuchula sana. Instead of things improving they are going in reverse.
Instead of suspending chitotela and Chilufya Chitalu the real criminals, they take their anger on an innocent man.
All aggrieved lawyers and citizens must register their grievances with all forinegn embassies in Zambia. Google their contact info.
PF survives on foringe aid.
Do the men and women in the Judiciary know that they are on the same level as Lungu and his government, i.e. as the 3rd arm of government? If so why do they tremble under pressure to the point of messing their underpants merely at the cough of corrupt Lungu? Their job was to provide the balance of power through checks and balances.
Take a leaf at the Judiciary in Kenya and Malawi who overturned fraudulent elections. And look at the USA courts that threw away Trump’s travel ban from the countries he didn’t like.
How could you suspend somebody and lock them from doing their jobs without according them a fair trial and convict them? Yet everyday Lungu doesn’t fore ministers who have been accused of committing a crime!
What a failed project this Zambia is!
If the imperialists want let them get Sangwa to their own countries.
Imperialists thinks that Africa is their toilet paper.