President Edgar Lungu says judges have a critical role to play in the dispensation of fair justice as the country goes to the presidential and general elections on August 12, 2021.
President Lungu said Zambians expect the judiciary to perform and discharge their duties with unparalleled high levels of professionalism that should be inspired by principals of judicial authority as spelt out in article 118 (2) of the Zambian constitution.
The Head of State has since urged judges to exercise impartiality and high levels of integrity in discharging their duties as political players and stakeholders will seek for justice from the courts of law
“The role of the judiciary, particularly, this year when our country is going to the general elections on 12th August, will be critical as most political players and other stakeholders will seek different forms of court relief,” he said.
President Lungu stressed that the judiciary has a key role to play in providing fair justice to meet people’s expectations.
“I am confident that your individual diverse experiences in the administration of justice in your previous capacities in the judiciary will be invaluable as you take up your respective new roles,” President Lungu said.
He said this at State House in Lusaka today when he swore in seven judges for the Supreme Court, Constitutional Court and Court of Appeals.
Justice Fulgency Chisanga was sworn in as Supreme Court Judge, while Justices Mathew Chisunka, Judy Mulongoti and State Counsel Mwila Chitabo were sworn in as Constitutional Court Judges.
Justices Anessie Banda-Bobo, Nicola Ann Sharpe-Phiri and Kelvin Muzenga were sworn in as Court of Appeal Judges.
President Lungu has since assured the judiciary that his administration remained committed to ensuring that establishments of the constitutional court and court of appeal are filled to optimum levels needed to run them effectively.
He noted that the constitutional court is supposed to have 13 judges and the court of appeal 19 judges and that the appointments of the judges to the two courts is evidence of government’s commitment to ensuring that they operate at full capacity.
The appointment of the three constitutional judges has since increased the judges to nine while the Court of Appeals now has 13.
President Lungu was delighted that the gender balancing had seen four female judges being sworn in, which demonstrated his administration’s recognition of the positive contributions that women in the judiciary are making in the dispensation of justice.
“With this progressive milestone, I urge you all not to lose sight of the fact that the positions you have been appointed to are not only of great honour, but also come with immense responsibility and high expectations from members of the public,” he said.
Dr. Lungu said he was aware of the challenges affecting the commendable work the judiciary has been doing in delivering timely and effective justice in the country.
He said government will soon embark on a robust programme of constructing court infrastructure across the country to address the critical challenge of inadequate space being faced by the judiciary.
The Head of State also assured that government will address funding inadequacies to the judiciary to meet judges’ entitlements as provided for under the law.
The swearing in ceremony was attended by Chief Justice Irene Mambilima, Deputy Chief Justice Michael Musonda, Minister of Justice Given Lubinda, and his Presidential Affairs counterpart Freedom Sikazwe, Secretary to Cabinet Simon Miti, Deputy Secretary to Cabinet Patrick Kangwa, State House and other senior government officials.
‘He said government will soon embark on a robust programme of constructing court infrastructure across the country to address the critical challenge of inadequate space being faced by the judiciary.’
Interesting statement considering that the government has only 4 months to go and the 2021 budget was already passed. He is clearly confident of ruling beyond August 2021. That is humility.
This convict talking about being impartial, what a hypocrite.
This thief needs to be sent to The Hague for numerous offences including economic sabotage
You pay their salaries, you are the appointing authority and you expect them to be impartial?
In the USA ,President Trump packed the Supreme Court with Conservative aligned Judges hoping the SC would secure him victory in the November 3,2020 Elections. When the Election Results were disputed the SC refused to hear the Dispute and left it to lower Courts. With about 3 months to go b4 August 12 Elections is ECL swearing these Judges to advantage himself in the August 12 Elections? ECL has urged the Judges to be impartial in delivering timely and effective Justice. Does ECL really mean it or he is up to some mischief? The first hurdle for Concourt is to hear and determine Petitions on his Eligibility. Can Concourt do this impartially given its past record? Can Concourt redeem itself this time around? Time will tell.
You down voted Anonymous when I criticized John Sangwa….. Lungu getting ready to align himself with the Judges and besides they’re in his pocket…. John Sangwa wants to eat HH’s money. Lawyers are crooks…even when they kmow you not going anywhere with your case…..they will chew your ngwee
Here, I have in mind Donald Trump – knowing what was about to happen, he pack the supreme with persons he thought would bend-over the law “backwards” to favor him. lo and behold, it never happened! When the people have spoken, no amount of scheming or sangalatonis would work baba 🙂
A crooked lawyer that was barred by LAZ addressing Judges ..really laughable
The problem with ECL is that he is double faced. He doesn’t walk the Talk. Whatever ECL says the opposite is true. It’s hypocritical for ECL to urge Judges to be impartial in delivering social Justice. Will he allow Concourt Judges to hear and determine the ECL Eligibility Petitions without interference from him? Given his past record the chances are that Concourt Judges will be ordered by ECL to give him a licence to Stand for 2021 Elections even if that is illegal and unconstitutional. The Repub
Constitution is very clear: “A person who has held Office twice is not eligible for Election as President”. ECL has held office twice and has been elected and sworn in twice in 2015 and 2016 and yet he is disputing this fact. ECL is bent on imposing himself on Zambians thru an…
When the time comes no amount of sugar-coating shall work Edgar Lungu for him to grip on power.
He can even appoint his relatives or whoever but his time is coming soon and very soon.
Edgar Lungu is going and PF must go too!
You appoint them and you expect them to be impartial, give us break Mr President we are not as thick as you are.
My wise boss. Where is hh? We hear he is in coma with covid. Let upnd come out and tell us so that we pray for him
KZ whe chinangwa
“The Head of State also assured that government will address funding inadequacies to the judiciary to meet judges’ entitlements as provided for under the law”. LT.
PF administration time out. “delay defeats equity”.
“Some of the more common equitable maxims are:
* those who come to equity must come with clean hands;
* those who seek equity must do equity;
* equity regards as done that which ought to be done;
* equity follows the law; and.
* delay defeats equity”.
“Washington(CNN) In an extraordinary move, the State Department is pulling the US ambassador to Zambia after the president there objected to his harsh criticism of the government’s record on corruption and gay rights.
Recalling an ambassador is rare, especially when an ambassador is arguing for American values…
Thanks Mr President, for your well done job you are doing across the country to promote development across the country, and continued preachings peace and unit in our country.thank you Mr President May Almighty God bless you.
Your corrupt boss, KZ. Like you he doesn’t remember when he spoke the truth for the last time. He tells those judges to be impartial, and then he calls them up during a court case to give them instructions. So much for the independent judiciary!
Zambians are really funny kikiki. How do you expect a nation to change when our opposition walks out of parley and not attach themselves to a vote. Why have the opposition never proposed a bill or legislation? These are questions we as Zambians should ask. The just oppose everything. Why not draw up one that reduces the presidents overreach? Am I dreaming or just wanting more?
….be impartial but remember who appointed you is really the message here. Our institutions have become severely compromised under these thugs! PF out!
He is indirectly telling them to be partial.
Bwana Lungu is the same man who threatened judges after the famous Kenyan supreme court petition ruling to overturn their presidential election.
Edgar Lungu , Zambian judges are supposed to be completely independent so back off please.
It’s a bad joke that ECL is advising Judges to be impartial in delivering Social Justice. ECL is on record warning Zambian Concourt Judges not to emulate their Kenyan Counterparts who had declared Petitioned Presidential Elections Null and Void. He threatened stern action should Zambia Concourt Judges do the same. Now ECL is calling on the same Judges to be impartial. That is contradictory. We shall see what Concourt will do when ECL’s Eligibility is Petitioned in May 2020. In 2016 Concourt Judges mishandled the Presidential Petition. Can Concourt redeem itself in handling the ECL Eligibility Petitions? We shall see and the whole World is watching.
Wonder if the new White female judge will tow the line or do her own thing as she has big power being a Appeal court judge.
Talk about impartiality expected from those sworn in its a steep climb for the appointees are just picked and given the office without scrutiny for the citizenry to get to know them and their school of thought!
Concourt has been urged by ECL to be impartial in delivering Justice. ECL’s Eligibility Petitions present Concourt with an opportunity to demonstrate that it can interpret, protect and enforce our Constitution . On November 2, 2008 RB was sworn in as the 4th President of Zambia. His term ended on September 23,2011 which means RB served a Term of 2 years, 10 months and 22 days which is less than 3 years. In 2015 ECL was sworn in as the 6th President of Zambia. He served for 18 months. Both RB and ECL served under the Amended Constitution of 1996. Can somebody argue that RB was not the 5th President of Zambia becoz his Term of Office was less than 3 years? Clearly the 18 months ECL served in 2015 is a Term of Office even though it is less than 5 years. If Concourt is Objective and…
@Moyo. If RB held Office for less than 3 years how come he is considered a former President and he is receiving his Pension Benefits? RB served for 2 years,22 months and 20 days to be precise and this amounts to a Term of Office in terms of the 1996 Constitution. In 2015 ,ECL was sworn in Power for 18 months which is a Term of Office in terms of the 1996 Amended Constitution. It follows therefore that ECL served his first Term in January 2015 and his second Term 2016-21 and therefore he is not eligible for re-election for the third time. The Zambian Constitution doesn’t allow a Third Term. ECL should just retire from Politics and avoid pressuring Concourt Judges unnecessarily.
.
Does ECL mean what he says when he advises Concourt to be impartial, Objective and Professional in discharging its duties? If Concourt was to do this on Lungu’s Eligibility it will find that ECL doesn’t qualify for a Third Term in terms of our Constitution. Concourt will find that ECL has held Office twice and was elected and sworn in twice and therefore is ineligible to stand as a Presidential Candidate in the 2021 Elections. No matter what ECL says the 18 months he served in 2015 – 2016 constitutes a Term in terms of the 1996 Constitution. That was his first Term and his second Term is from 2016 to August 2021. So come August 2021 the Constitution prohibits ECL from standing for the third time. We shall if ECL will respect the Constitution and Concourt’s decision on this matter…