The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has condemned in the strongest terms possible, calls by some senior officials and cadres of the ruling UPND for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lillian Siyuni to resign with a Purported 48-hours ultimatum being given to her to do so or face protests.
LAZ has since written to the UPND Secretary-General expressing its concern over the matter, and calling on him to immediately redress the situation within his ranks in order to prevent the breakdown of the Rule of Law.
LAZ through its Honorary Secretary Sokwani Chilembo said that the Rule of Law demands observance of the law in the conduct of public affairs by everyone with the ruling party being no exception and must take the lead in assuring the country that the Rule of Law will be respected.
In a statement, Mr Chilembo said that the fact that the calls threatening the DPP are also echoed by persons holding leadership positions in the UPND greatly concerns LAZ.
He states that the DPP is a Constitutional officeholder whose tenure is guaranteed up to the retirement age of sixty (60) years by the provisions of Article 182 of the Constitution (Amendment) Act, 2016 unless she resigns out of her own volition or is removed in line with the provisions of Article 144 of the Constitution on the grounds stipulated in Article 143, which include mental or physical disability making her incapable of performing judicial functions, incompetence or gross misconduct.
He has stressed the need for the UPND officials, cadres or any citizen to follow the Constitutional provisions, and not resort to intimidating a Constitutional Officeholder.
Mr Chilembo notes that Democratic principles can only be entrenched in the country if Constitutional Officeholders, such as the DPP, are allowed to perform their functions without fear or favour, devoid of any intimidation.
Meanwhile, the Zambia National Women’s Lobby (ZNWL) has defended the women’s movement’s silence on recent attacks on Director of Public Prosecutions Lillian Siyuni by some stakeholders, especially political players.
Speaking in an interview with Q-news, Zambia National Women’s Lobby board chairperson, Daisy Ng’ambi says her organization is quiet on the matter because the DPP is being attacked in his official capacity and not on a personal level.
Mrs Ngambi says her organization would only come to the defence of the DPP if people attack her on a personal level as a woman.
She, however, notes the need for aggrieved people to use proper channels to air grievances unlike trying to intimidate her to step down and using abusive language.
But Chapter One Foundation Executive Director Linda Kasonde has condemned the continued intimidation of Mrs Siyuni by political cadres.
Yesterday, Patriotic Front member of the central committee and chairman for publicity and Information Raphael Nakacinda called on women organisations to defend the DPP from attacks by politicians.
THE PRESIDENT HAS TO LISTEN
HE HAS TO RESHUFFLE HIS GOVERNMENT
WE CANT BE DOING WITH ALL AND SUNDRY SPEAKING WITHOUT AUTHORITY
Comment:
awe sure
We never saw this level of stupldity under any previous govt. Hh is seeking his revenge on all those he perceives as enemies. As soon as the tribal upnd thugs are against someone they go to him and he acts based on tribal hate and personal vendetta. He won’t last in that office. Mark my words. Kaleza
watoloka imisu wanyanta pamafi….this is whats happened to Zambia….
@ number one. We wanted change but are back to square one. Kulo mone young man.
It’s unfortunate that anyone from new doom government can issue, counter, anything done by any government official. Is it difficult to have one wing of government to issue statements.
And the s@t@n1st finds pleasure in listening to anyone issuing statements for the government. Where is Smoke Kasanda?
Events currently evolving on the Zambian political scene are frightening – and tend to generate FEARS in hearts of many professional Zambians. What is unfolding is a replay of the persecution tactics which were meted out on the former DPP, Mukelebai Mukelebai. MHSRIP. Madam Siyuni has our sympathy. A Chief Nzamani, uzyani a Mpezeni kuti bana banu azakhala pa mabvuto pa nthawi ya myaka 5 years. We pray that God’s mercy will prevail over this nation.
PROPHETS OF D00M AT IT AGAIN
THE QUESTION IS CAN THEY KEEP IT UP FOR THE NEXT 10 YEARS
A rock looks like one solid mass. But it is composed of various particles which can be separated. The present day LAZ is like this rock….there are already lawyers eying that position. Liteta obviously knows that he’s got support from certain quarters.
The DPP is Mrs. Siyunyi, not Siyuni.
Surprisingly, its LAZ that created an impasse and developed cold feet to rid the nation gripped with anger and frustration on the interpretation of presidential “Second Term”. Nation tension was slowly sliding into an eminent violence while LAZ was helplessly rendering weak academic advice ignored by PF regime. While we abhor party cadres to intervene in DDPconstitutional office, as an “elephant in the living room”. Solution needs to be available. During PF regime time DPP would have been removed physically by PF cadres. UPND have not opted for that path, they know it was wrong then with PF cadres and remains so now. However, have asked due process to begin to correct the wrong with DPP. Ultimatum is being enthusiastic and pro action to begin the formal process of law by government…
Surprisingly, its LAZ that created an impasse and developed cold feet to rid the nation gripped with anger and frustration on the interpretation of presidential “Second Term”. Nation tension was slowly sliding into an eminent violence while LAZ was helplessly rendering weak academic advice ignored by PF regime. While we abhor party cadres to intervene in DDP constitutional office, as an “elephant in the living room”. Solution needs to be available. During PF regime time DPP would have been removed physically by PF cadres. UPND have not opted for that path, they know it was wrong then with PF cadres and remains so now. However, have asked due process to begin to correct the wrong with DPP. Ultimatum is being enthusiastic and pro action to begin the formal process of law by government…
to remove stumbling blocks in achieving much needed delivery of justice in Zambia.
LAZ created this problem by giving a very biased interpretation of events. Now that things are looking very embarrassing with cadres having a field day, LAZ wants to look good by trying to quench the fire that they ignited. This may turn out to be the most useless LAZ executive in recent times.
It is not that UNPD are failing to provide good leadership, it is all because of their businesses interests. Look up, you see vadetta descending.
I concur with adviser @14
This LAZ is full of people with partisan interests and as such, they have become irrelevant.
Don’t expect any helpful input from there.