Thursday, March 28, 2024

If John Sangwa wants to Petition President Lungu’s eligibility for 2021 Elections, he should do it now

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Patrotic Front Eastern Province Minister Hon Makebi Zulu has challenged constitutional lawyer John Sangwa to bring forward his presidential petition regarding President Edgar Lungu’s eligibility which he claims is ready.

Mr Zulu,a lawyer who is also PF Malambo Member of parliament says the presidential petition claim is a non issue which has already been settled and does not deserve any attention to even be discussed.

Reacting to Mr Sangwa’s petition issue during Hot Fm’s breakfast show, Hon Zulu said Mr Sangwa’s petition should be brought forward and will be responded to.

“Mr Sangwa represented LAZ in that case and the judgment was very clear.He says he has this petition on his laptop,let him bring it, will respond to it and we will make sure he pays costs personally” Mr Zulu said.

He said Mr Sangwa is trying to be oblivious on a matter that was already settled but urged him to continue talking if his interest is to remain relevant on the political field.

And Hon Zulu has described Mr Sangwa’s suggestion to prove Bill 10 popularity by subjecting it to a referendum as laughable.

He said Mr Sangwa should instead talk about the benefits of the bill such as creating certainty on the issue of mixed-member representation, recognition of chiefs, promoting women representation in parliament among other issues rather than issuing misleading statements on the matter.

Mr Zulu also dispelled assertions that Bill 10 has lapsed saying non of the standing orders suggests otherwise adding that the bill is still alive and active as he expressed confidence that it will succeed and will help in improving the country’s legal system.

37 COMMENTS

  1. Dumb-a$$ PF lawyer, the petition will only be relevant when that clueless clown Lungu lodges in his nomination. Is there anyone in PF who is intelligent? Just one fye?

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  2. The opposition and diasporans are quick to disagree but slow to follow through their assertions with valid legal arguments and evidence. Just look at how cowardly they have approached bill 10. What are they scared of? If honestly you have a valid argument that bill 10 is bad and that lungu is not eligible to stand, then why not follow the proper channels to challenge these things? Very childish behaviour. Anyway doesn’t surprise me because even their leader has never held public office. Not even as councillor. Which means that a public toilet office has more experience in public governance than hh has.

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  3. Is it a forcing matter? Sangwa is a seasoned lawyer and he knows what he is doing.
    I also have some advice for pf. If they had wanted to win, they would have fielded a candidate that carries weight like Dr. Chilufya(but too bad he is corrupt). But he has weight. Mr. Lungu is a lightweight. Even most pf members know this. That is why they are quiet om lungu eligibility and bill 10. Only people like bowman, tutwa, makebi, lubinda, matibimi and other undefined individuals are campaigning for it because without lungu they have no future.

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    • You call a former Defence Minister, Home Affairs Minister, Secretary General of the Party, etc, as a lightweight?? What are you smoking bwana???!!!

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  4. Indeed its hard to find any Patriotic F.OOL (PF) who has a single brain cell.
    How do you petition someone who has not filed in his nomination? And this is a lawyer??

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  5. Ba PF Lawyers, go and listen again. He cannot bring it now, he is waiting for an opportune time. If you do things right, you have nothing to fear.

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  6. Makebi Zulu should stop being mischievous and misleading people, the Courts did not rule whether ECL is eligible to stand in 2021 as Dan Pule took wrong case to them, since at that point, ECL has not shown his intention of standing. How could they discuss and pass judgement on a fictitious scenario or presumptive case? The only time the courts will definitely be sure that ECL has intentions of standing in 2021 is after he files his nomination with ECZ. That is when Sangwa and Co. can ask the courts about his eligibility.

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    • No need to petition his candidature if you’re confident of winning. Just form alliances and try your luck. who knows…!!

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  7. PF in this situation should have a plan B, otherwise they might end up with no candidate running in the presidential elections.
    There judges who are pricinpled and do want to do the right thing and be remembered for that. In Kenya it happened and even in Malawi.
    Zambians rejected FTJ who gave them free council, parastatal and other state owned houses.
    What is better than your own house in one’s life. But they said Awee. What magic is pf going to use to sway people’s minds in their favor.

  8. Makebi Zulu doesnt get it. SC Sangwa said he would challenge ECL’s eligibility after he has filed his Nomination Papers and not b4.Sc Sangwa assumes that the Petitioning of a Presidential Candidate after Nomination will remain valid. Anybody can challenge the Eligibility of any Presidential Candidate after Nomination. As for the lapsing of Bill 10 this can only be interpreted by a Court if disputed.The PF Chief Whip has alrwady conceded that Bill 10 lapsed on June 4, 2020. The issue that a Court will need to determine is whether or not an expired Bill can be retabled in Parliament after 20 days of expiry. As it is Bill 10 stands dead and buried.

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  9. This fool can set the country on fire. I blame radio stations the give him time. All will be found wanting and go to jail. in the meantime, Akainde will run to Sasafrica and hide.

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  10. The challenge can only be done as a challenge to an action to the candidacy and not before. How did this guy even manage to become a lawyer? Sangwa SC will not need the petition if the candidate is not filed for election.

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  11. And Hon Zulu has described Mr Sangwa’s suggestion to prove Bill 10 popularity by subjecting it to a referendum as laughable.

    What is laughable if the majority want bill 10

  12. If Lungu is eligible to stand in 2021 why are members of the PF wasting time responding to people like myself, Sangwa and many others who are saying he’s not eligible?
    Somewhere in his thick skull Makebi Zulu knows that the constitutional court never ruled that Lungu is eligible to stand, if Bill 10 doesn’t pass and Lungu files in his nominations, I, Sangwa and many others have the right to petition that and we will.
    We strongly believe it’s our patriotic duty to defend the constitution of this country.
    It’s better tanyala by concourt’s decision.

  13. Someone…..please tap him on The shoulder and say….”You’re flogging a dead house, mate.”. Give it up.

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  14. MAKABI ZULU YOU ARE DULL LAWYER.HOW CAN ONE PETTITION WHEN HE HAS NOT YET DONE THE WRONG. WHAT IF ECL TODAY SAYS HE IS NOT GOING TO STAND THEN WHAT WILL YOU CALL DR. STATE COUNSEL JOHN SANGWA? SC JOE IS SMART AND PROFESSIONAL . HE HAS STATED AND IF ECL GOES FOR PRESIDENCY THEN WILL YOU SEE HIM REACT.
    MULEKWATA AMANO KWATI NIBA LAWYER AND DON’T ACT LIKE A CADRE.

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  15. GUYS LET ME COMMENT ON MY OWN OPINION. TAKE IT OR THROUGH IT. WHY PF WANT TO PASS BILL TEN IS WHEN TO STAY IN POWER FOR LIFE. WE MAY GO FOR ELECTION BUT MIND YOU THE INSTRUMENTS OF POWER WILL BE IN THE HANDS OF ECL WHO WILL BE DEFENDED BY MINISTER OF DEFENSE, HE WILL HOLD ON MINISTER OF FINANCE AND HOME AFFAIRS SINCE BY THEN THEY WILL BE OPERATION ACCORDING TO BILL TEN.
    IT WILL BE DIFFICULTY FOR THESE PF TO BE REMOVED FROM POWER. NB THE COUNTRY IS PROTECTED BY THESE FOUR MINISTRIES – DEFENSE, FINANCE, HOME AFFAIRS AND FOREIGN AFFAIRS. SURELY ZAMBIANS ARE WE SO FOOLISH TO BE FOOLED THAT MINISTERS CONTINUE SERVING UP TO THE END OF THE ELECTIONS? IF PF ARE ARROGANT NOW AND DO YOU THINK IT WILL BE EASY FOR THEM TO RELEASE THE INSTRUMENT OF POWERS TO THE WINNERS WHEN THEY LOOSE? LET US THROW…

    • This PF is a total mess to govern us anymore because they totally have no direction. They aren’t consistent in the respect for law unless it favours them. This is the same PF which is taking seriously and believes it’s final the Con. Court’s ruling on ECL’s candidature he was eligible to stand. They always refer to that whenever concerns arise BUT what is surprising is that today the same Con. Court rules that the speaker of National Assembly wrongly discharged Dr. Kambwili from parliament your vuvuzela MMD speaker yaps that he is the only one who can interpret the constitution not the Courts. This shows no consistence in respect for law. Amwapeeling (these words brought by your chief bandit in PF) to once feel shy and show quality leadership by doing things in the correct manner even…

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  16. Listen Makebi Zulu, this is a party matter. Concentrate on affairs of the office of Eastern province minister. 257 school girls since January hv become pregnant in your province. That’s wht should be keeping u awake @ night, not Lungu’s eligibility.

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  17. Like I said before on this matter, I would advise the opposition to come up with a strategy to win next year’s elections regardless of PF’s candidate. E.g. take Kambwili’s advice of coming together. If we all remember very well even if the constitution court did not mention ECL in their ruling, they established one fact that ECL’s first term is the current one running from 2016. The other one was less than 3 years to qualify as a term. It’s on these premises PF is fielding ECL as their candidate. Unless Mr Sangwa’s laptop has data from the constitution which can overturn this fact then he will succeed. Otherwise it’s a sheer waste of time and money petitioning the candidature of ECL.

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  18. Kikikikiki PF in trouble, things come and go including PF in 2021. It’s a pity Sata died and sympathy supporters had are finito

  19. Looks like John Sangwa wants to enter the Zambia political scene in a dramatic way. Well, the guy he is trying to emulate, the late Levy Patrick Mwanawasa who entered the political scene in a dramatic way as ‘Ichibumba’ in 1990, did so at a time of a Global Revolution. The wind of change then was unstoppable. Unfortunately, this won’t work for John.

  20. Was Makabi Zulu elected as an MP or was he appointed?
    This level of incompetence as a lawyer for that matter is frightening!
    No wonder ZIALE keeps passing a fraction of its students!.. dear lord!

  21. I was going to petition the referee at the 2022 Africa cup to award Zambia a penalty if Mbesuma is fouled in the box.’ But my lawyer Mr Macabre Zulu has advised me to petition now. He is a dark lawyer, powerful with abilities to see the future.

  22. Makebi Zulu is a lawyer and as such he should know that u cannot Petition someone b4 he commits a crime. The day that Lungu will file his Nomination forms for President the day most Zambians will petition against his Eligibility. The arguments will be that Lungu has been elected and sworn in twice and he has occupied the office of the President twice and therefore doesn’t qualify for the Third Term. Period.

  23. The constitutional lawyer State Council, John Sangwa’s mind is reeling with revenge. He was stripped, taken off the bar. He wants to avenge by hitting Edgar Lungu the republican president where it hurts most – the presidency. PF has a way of sorting this problem out, anyway.
    However, ECZ wont have any successful candidate on nomination day because we will all be petitioning our opponents. Believe that.

  24. Lazy Lungu knows that without Bill 10 which is questionable as well he has nothing to stand on cant even trust his Concourt Judges as they can easily pull the rug under his feet.

  25. By the way, bill 10 has nothing to do with ecl’s wining or extending his tenual of office. Which bill 10 is kainde and his supporters refering to? It seems kainde and his ticks have their own made bill ten. Are they reading their 10 point plan? Ecl won 2016 elections without the referendum which kainde the habitual looser shot down by lying to people that if they vote for referendum, they are voting for lungu. Stupid lies !!!! Referendum failed,, but ECL did not fail to go to state house. Referendum or no teferendum, ECL WON*** bill ten or no bill 10, ECL will win come 2021. Sangwa and his tricks or no sangwa, Bill ten will go thru and ECL will GO THROUGH.

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  26. Continuation…even when people don’t want you come next year teachers, nurses and our fellow mwamis Ni game change plan. Don’t think that you have support on the ground when you see your kandiles chanting slogans for you, kuwaya wayafye. Tick tock! tick tock! tick tock!
    13 months panono ninshi natudonsako Na ma loan we accrued due to no proper conditions of service to survive.

    #Opposition 2021

  27. Legally, John Sangwa may be right in petitioning ECL’s eligibility after he has filed in his nomination. My concern is the aftermath of Sangwa’s petition. What will happen thereafter? What will be the reaction of the millions of PF supporters, cadres, and fanatics outside the High Court grounds and on the streets, upon learning that ECL has been disqualified? I suppose Sangwa believes that after he successfully blocks ECL’s nomination, the PF faithful will just meekly, humbly, and peacefully walk back to their homes in Buchi, Kanyama, Chifubu, Makululu, Chawama, lonely, sad, and forlorn, with tails between their legs, and forget about the whole damn thing? .

  28. It’s really sad that Zambians are more royal to their political parties than their country. I have said in past that we will only develop as a country if we realise that development should not depend on ECL and HH but the system. That system is:
    1. A simple and clear constitution
    2. Independent Judiciary
    3. Qualified and competent civil service.
    4. Qualified and competent Anti Corruption Commission
    5. Transformed Police Service
    6. Transform the Prison Service how can we have Chimbokaila that was meant for 200 people now it’s got 2000 inmates (unacceptable)
    7. Minimize on ceremonial positions (DC)
    8. Minimize on Govt bureaucracy to eliminate corruption
    9. Strengthen our procurement policy which is abused by politicians and civil service.
    10. Reduce the borrowing appetite…

  29. Sangwa is smarter than that, as of now Lungu has only declared intent but has not filed in yet therefore no basis for a petition, once the papers are filed in by him to actualize the intent, then the basis would have been established period and the case can be moved.

  30. I once saw Sangwa and Zulu debating Lungu’s eligibility to be sworn in for a third time. Makebi claimed Lungu’s presidence finishing the residue of Sata’s remaining term does not count. Which is true. But the constitution talks about being sworn in, which he was and counts as one against him. When he rigged and cheated HH four years ago, he was SWORN IN the second time. In terms of the constitution, he has been SWORN IN twice, kla, kufelile, kwasila, chapwa, kwamana! By the way, Makezi came out looking very stupid and intellectually shallow! The life of a stooge stinks, it also shows political positions derived from tribal bigotry are rotten stinking! ChimuLawyer chimukulu choonse kuzinyila my trousers on TV like that, it was so shameful.

  31. @STRINGER , PF IS NOT AND WILL NEVER EVER BE ABOVE THE LAW…ECL does not qualify. If he is disqualified ninshi kwapwa , kwasila , kwamana……. IF PF CADRES TRY TO FORCE THEMSELVES THROUGH VIOLENCE, that is when you will see the TRUE MANDATE OF THE ZAMBIAN SECURITY FORCES (excluding PF POLICE) whose loyalty is to the Zambian people. They WILL whip sense in you within minutes. You saw what they can do when PF cadres started looting foreign shops. ZAMBIA does not belong to PF alone. PLEASE DONT EVEN THINK ABOUT IT

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