Judiciary blamed for deepening PF internal conflicts — Banda

Judiciary blamed for deepening PF internal conflicts — Banda
State Counsel Chifumu Banda has blamed prolonged judicial delays for fuelling internal wrangles within the Patriotic Front, saying the failure to conclude long-running political cases involving the former ruling party has created confusion, uncertainty, and competing claims of authority.

Speaking in Lusaka, Banda said several PF-related political cases had remained unresolved in the courts for more than three years, preventing clarity on leadership and organisational disputes within the party. He stressed that his remarks were made in his capacity as a legal practitioner commenting on the impact of court delays on political stability.

Banda said unresolved court matters had left PF supporters and officials uncertain about legitimate leadership structures, enabling parallel claims of authority and weakening cohesion within the former ruling party. He said the judiciary’s failure to bring finality to politically sensitive cases had allowed disputes to persist instead of being settled through clear legal determinations.

He said political parties rely on timely judicial rulings when disputes arise, particularly those relating to leadership, administration, and electoral participation. According to Banda, prolonged litigation without resolution undermines confidence in legal institutions and destabilises political organisations.

Banda said the issue was not limited to the PF but warned that the party’s experience demonstrated how judicial delays could distort political processes and prolong internal conflict. He said courts play a central role in maintaining democratic order by providing clarity and finality in disputes that political actors are unable to resolve internally.

He said he was prepared, if requested, to assist as counsel in efforts aimed at resolving PF-related legal disputes, provided all parties were willing to pursue lawful and constructive engagement. He said the objective was not to undermine the judiciary but to ensure that justice was delivered within reasonable timeframes.

The Patriotic Front has faced persistent internal disputes since losing power, with rival factions repeatedly seeking court intervention over leadership and administrative control. Several of these cases have remained unresolved, creating prolonged uncertainty that has spilled into grassroots structures and public political messaging.

Banda’s comments come at a time of heightened political tension as the country approaches the August 13 general elections. Opposition figures have increasingly raised concerns about the conduct and responsiveness of key institutions in politically sensitive matters.

In Eastern Province, police conduct has also drawn scrutiny following an incident involving PF presidential aspirant Makebi Zulu, whose private residence in Malambo Constituency was entered by police officers who ordered him and visiting relatives to disperse. Villagers resisted the police presence and booed officers until they withdrew from the property.

The incident has been widely cited by opposition actors as an example of political harassment. Zulu described the action as persecution, while an editorial published in the same edition criticised the police intrusion as an abuse of state authority and a violation of private rights.a

Traditional leaders have also weighed in on the political climate. Senior Chief Chipepo urged chiefs to avoid fuelling violence and confusion ahead of the elections, reminding traditional leaders of their responsibility to promote peace and unity.

Civil society organisations have expressed concern that unresolved political disputes, combined with voter apathy and fragmented opposition efforts, could undermine democratic stability. The Southern African Centre for the Constructive Resolution of Disputes cited recent electoral outcomes as signals of broader public dissatisfaction.

Within PF circles, some supporters have framed recent electoral outcomes as expressions of resistance, linking voting behaviour to unresolved disputes surrounding the burial of former president Edgar Lungu and the treatment of his family.

Banda said the judiciary remains a cornerstone of democracy but warned that justice delayed in politically charged cases risks being perceived as justice denied. He said timely rulings would reduce speculation, discourage factionalism, and restore confidence in legal and political institutions as the election period approaches.