Former President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has expressed deep disappointment over what he describes as an attack on Zambia’s democracy and judiciary by the government of President Hakainde Hichilema. Speaking out against recent legal actions aimed at overturning a 2020 Constitutional Court (Concourt) ruling, Dr. Lungu called on Zambians to defend the country’s constitutional principles.
Dr. Lungu recounted the 2016 case during his administration when President Hichilema, then an opposition leader, and others challenged the legality of cabinet ministers remaining in office and on payroll after the dissolution of Parliament. The Concourt ruled in favor of Hichilema and the petitioners, declaring that ministers must vacate their posts three months before national elections to ensure a fair political playing field. Dr. Lungu’s cabinet complied, with all ministers refunding the emoluments they received during the disputed period.
“The court emphasized that this law ensures a level playing field for all candidates, both within and outside Parliament, during elections. It was a decision we respected, even though it came at a great cost to my administration,” said Dr. Lungu.
However, the former president condemned a new legal challenge by a Lusaka lawyer seeking to overturn the 2020 Concourt ruling. Dr. Lungu described the move as a government-sponsored proxy effort to undermine the judiciary and reverse key democratic principles.
“This gesture is shocking, annoying, and disappointing. It represents another high-profile assault on our judiciary, democracy, and constitutionalism,” Dr. Lungu stated.
Dr. Lungu also drew parallels between this legal challenge and the December 10, 2024, Concourt ruling that barred him from contesting the 2026 elections. He described the decision as part of a broader trend of undermining judicial independence and eroding Zambia’s democratic foundations.
“The appetite by President HH to defile the constitution, rape the judiciary, and undermine our hard-earned democracy is both worrying and alarming,” Dr. Lungu said.
The former president called on Zambians to take a stand by employing all legal means, including peaceful demonstrations, to stop what he referred to as a “bogus court petition.” He urged citizens to recognize the broader implications of allowing such actions to proceed, warning that silence in the face of injustice would weaken the nation’s democratic foundations.
“I warned on December 10, 2024, that the decision to bar me transcended my fate. It spoke to the erosion of judicial independence, the weaknesses of our democratic foundations, and the weaponization of our institutions for short-term gains,” Dr. Lungu stated.
He concluded his statement with a passionate appeal for unity and vigilance in defending Zambia’s democracy.
“The country suffers and democracy dies when you choose to remain silent in the face of grave injustice. Stop this now!”
Lungu had bragged to be a seasoned lawyer and had refused the Solister General’s advice. Lungu has mislead Zambia on several serious governance issues in Zambia and is the wrong person to provide advice to anyone on governance issues. The best he can do is shut up and go and sleep. Did he think everyone one was sleeping when he was raping the constitution?
Ba ECL, you belong in the past and will do well to just chill! There can be no success without successors.
ECL is an necessary evil I am afraid at this particular time
When the citizenry cries are ignored for whatever reason
someone needs to stir the pot
“with all ministers refunding the emoluments they received” is very inaccurate and misleading. State the facts as they are. The refund for most of the ministers was by an unknown force. When you present your case with inaccuracies, it weakens your case.
The petition was dead on arrival in the registry of the Constitutional Court. I fail to understand why the self-declared top lawyer is worried.
Brought in dead for sure Gunner in Zambia.
If surely it was brought in dead, why was it even brought in, or contemplated on? We are worried about the hypocritical behaviour from the people defiling the constitution.
Remember that the infamous Bill 10 was also a BID case.
Zambia is not PF or ECL, nor is ECL our pillar. he got the same dose of a pill he played against Guy Scot
What’s next with njala? Umuntu uuli ne fumo ilya fye aleta insoni.
Why are voters important? Voters are in majority to over rule dictatorial tendencies in a democracy.
News update s
It is important to remember that Constitutional rights are not and cannot always be absolute. There are limits to all constitutional rights and that includes freedom of expression and human rights. If human rights were absolute, there would be no arrests by Police and no prisons and no Courts too. All those things exists because human beings are intrinsically evil in themselves. When one has not been arrested, taken to Court nor imprisoned, does not mean goodness, it is only that your evilness has not yet been discovered.
First and foremost it was wrong of you changing the constitution to suit you at the time, you were sworn into office and elected twice in 2021 you wanted to rule Zambia for a total of 12 and half years had you won the election which is unconstitutional plus in 7 years you amassed wealth beyond embassy pack’s life span…beyond your great grand children and future generations as if stealing was normal under your rule