Governance and Development Advocates Zambia has commended President Hakainde Hichilema’s decision of firing Constitutional Court Judges.
Governance and Development Advocates Executive Director Elias Mulenga said President Hichilema’s decision to dismiss the three Constitutional Court judges is the right course of action to take as provided by the Constitution and the laws of Zambia.
Mr Mulenga said his organisation is concerned with some social media narratives that President Hakainde Hichilema has fired the three Constitution Court Judges.
He said this decision follows a complaint against the judges, which was thoroughly investigated by the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).
Mr Mulenga noted that the JCC made recommendations to President Hichilema and that the President has acted upon these recommendations following the laid down procedures enshrined in the constitution of the Republic of Zambia.
He stated that the President’s mandate is clearly outlined in the Zambian Constitution, and he had no choice but to invoke and exercise the Powers vested in him in article 143 (b) and (c) of the Constitution of Zambia which is the relevant section to fulfill his oath of allegiance.
Meanwhile, Mr Mulenga said that President Hichilema is a respecter of the Constitution and the laws of Zambia and has urged citizens not to criticise him in execution of his duties.
The manipulation of institutions and autocratic behavior as the elections approach is a historical pattern of leaders in a state of panic. However, what’s truly disheartening is that President Hichlema was given a mandate to be a party with a difference, to uphold the rule of law and the principles of a liberal democratic nation. Yet, three years into their term, it is safe to say we were beguiled into believing they were something which they are not.
The reporting is terrible!
In a democracy, the President cant be seen to be interfering with the Judiciary. He should be removed from appointments and firing. If the President has power over the Judiciary who will check his power? He is not God so he should be subject to the laws of the country. He cant be subject to those laws if the Judiciary is scared of him. Rewrite this constitution yesterday!
Looks like it’s unanimous that the three fired judges are bad eggs. I just hope they will not be replaced via a nepo model! Meritocracy appears on shaky grounds these days.
Elias Mulenga and his group constitute UNANIMOUS
With millions of Zambians……..
You caders cont count…..
Forwardee 2031….
Zambia’s constitution needs to be done away with so that we can live like animals in the wild. Levy Mwanawasa appointed Nevas Mumba as vice president when the Constitution said that anyone who had contested and lost the just ended elections is not legible for constitutional office appointment….he justified this by playing with words…it said MAY NOT not SHALL NOT. KK not being like our crooked presidents reversed the appointment of Mr Justin Chimba as Eastern Province Secretary after being reminded of the same clause.
@Deja Vu …brings back memories of Sata’s appointment of Willie Nsanda as Transport Minister which was soon overturned. LPM was a bit of an overrated lawyer. For example, he appointed a private lawyer Mutembo Nchito as defacto DPP when there was a substantive holder in the person of Mukelabai Mukelabai contrary to constitution. In 1986, he accepted an appointment as Solicitor General when he knew very well that his law firm Mwanawasa & Company was defending Isa Galedou, a classic example of “double tobela”. Also, Mwanawasa, then Republican vice-president Levy Mwanawasa grabbed University of Zambia (UNZA) land in 1994 and Chiluba failed to discipline him. Further, he appointed late Ronnie Shikapwasha as Home Affairs Minister without him first taking oath in parliament.
Revenge is not a solution. If those judges were influenced by Edgar Lungu then I don’t see the difference with what Mr Hichilema has done… it’s even worse because it’s motivated by revenge… and someone else will also revenge etc
While he thinks that he’s being strong and effective, he’s actually exhibiting traits of a very weak leader. He’s very petty and vengeful. He’ll have a troubled fall from grace. I feel sorry for him
And all those encouraging him will be the first to desert him.
It was a “recommendation from the JCC ” …He did not just wake up and fire those Judges.Don`t be blinded by hatred
The revenge of kainde, his big headed this chap but you nothing lasts forever!!! Your time is coming & that time is here
Fo…fo……Forwadee 2031…….
Then UPND for another 10 years
Ni Kuliba bane ka……
Pipo are so short-sighted & get drunk with power, too much power in one man’s hands is a disaster, so are the angry bad-hearted leadership in the nation today
Abantu bambi kwati abena kainde ne group lyakwe baliba short minded & balikolwa with power
Fo……fo……Forwadee 2031…..
Bwafya, too much power in one man’s hands is a disaster, so are the angry bad-hearted leadership in the nation today
Kainde & upnd, it may look good where you are now but trust me it is not a bunch of roses.. mukalila tomorrow
It was a “recommendation from the JCC ” …He did not just wake up and fire those Judges.Don`t be blinded by hatred
Judges will mostly rule in favour of the ruling
Party so if that was the case then it will continue repeating.As most judges do not
Want to lose their jobs.
I thought the issue of judges was dealt with why is upnd reopening cases that are closed!
It’s very shameful.
Based on a quick scan of the comments above, CLEARLY, HH is the only Zambian President who has upheld the rule of law out of all Zambian Presidents.
Levy Mwanawasa, KK, Sata,……….
What makes a person who has followed what the constitution requires to do suddenly be viewed as “manipulating institutions and demonstrating autocratic behaviors”.
What would you have expected him to do, in this case?
The constitution was obeyed when KK declared a state of emergency for 27 years. Even dictators in Pretoria had a constitution during apartheid. It’s not obeying it that makes a leader great. It’s spotting it’s incongruencies and rectifying them. If you see a loophole in it and decide to use it to greedily serve yourself you are as bad as a criminal.
Now, it is up to the dismissed Judges to confess either to JCC or… on who influenced them. We know you were work mates in Judiciary Department and this can help government investigate other very serious matters. Remember we lost Chief Justice who refused to confer… instead the Court Clack did in 2016. We should not take our Zambian Government as a simple institution where criminals can take an upper hand.
Animal farm at its best. Look around you and you will will see that Zambians are now cattle in Hichilemas craw.
Kraal
@Auto Musonda…. yeah he didn’t dream but wrote the script…he appoints his friends to the JCC and sends a Upnd cadre to report this JCC.?
Fo….fo……Forwadee 2031……
Nobody is deaming the office of the president… the occupants are the ones doing it.
You people have short memories or you just don’t want to accept the reality
The KKIA gold scam…. some prominent people were involved even to the extent of switching off the security camera… The Occupant called an impromptu presser and told those PEOPLE THAT THEY WERE ON THEIR OWN.
Days later witnesses were allowed to fly out of the country and those prominent people are no longer on their own… only poor Kasanda is left on his own.
That is demeaning the position of a President !!!
Honestly, with your health mind and reasoning, do you really think that Hakainde has the time to sit down and plan the nonsensical stuff you keep on insinuating? It’s insane what you people are doing! Those of you who think that way should be ashamed.
Zambians seem unable to distinguish between nonsense and right. It is a climate of total mistrust, everything is suspect. People are so negative focussed on just finding “something” that is wrong.
You make noise day-in-day out, dishing out nonsence.
The problem we have is that power is concentrating in ONE man. Furthermore this person is not willing to take responsibility for the misrule such as selling strategic food reserves or the selling of power to neighboring countries. The is serious problem we have
How would you want him to show taking responsibility?
As far as any positive thinking person is concerned, he has taken responsibility and has gone forward to make a correction.
No one is dying from famine or hunger, and if they are, its NOT as a result of selling strategic food reserves.
Only politically motivated people continue with this narrative of government having sold strategic food reserves.
Does he need to be commended for firing staff? Ba Mulenga ninshi mulelwisha? You want to be seen as a replacement?
Bamushanina bwali naba temwa.
RED TIE AGAIN
Birds of a feather >>>
Well said Mr Mulenga. HH is a respecter of the rule of law. And he respects the recommendation of Public institutions. What some people want is that the president should start acting contrary to recommendations placed on his table. Not even in the early stone age can such a path be accepted
THE CONSCIENCE HAS BEEN OFFENDED
………
Alolf hilters senior generals were sent to prison in some cases hanged for carrying out orders deemed against humanity……..
Carrying out illigal orders does not absorb you of accountability……….
Let this be an example to all people in positions of responsibility………
You take the fall with your boss if you follow blindly……
Forwadee 2031…….