LUNGU’S TIME TO INTIMIDATE JUDGES IS GONE, SAYS UPND

By NOEL IYOMBWA

EDGAR Lungu should stop thinking that those judges he appointed to mete judgments in his favour like the case was during the petition hearing after the 2016 elections, are indispensable and are immune to discipline when they go wrong, the United Party for National Development (UPND) on the Copperbelt has charged.

Commenting on Mr. Lungu’s statement on the expulsion of the three Constitutional Court judges Justice Annie Sitali, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, and Justice Palan Mulonda where he charged that trio were unjustly suspended, Copperbelt UPND vice Information Publicity Secretary Sam Mwikisa said the earlier Mr. Lungu realizes that he is no longer in power, the better for him.

Mr. Mwikisa charged that the subsequent application by Mr. Lungu for the recusal of three of the seven judges presiding over his eligibility petition where he accused them of bias is testimony of how he abused power when he was in office by intimidating judges to mete judgments in his favour.

“Mr. Lungu thinks just because he appointed judges in his time then they should deliver judgments the way he likes. He must be reminded again that Judges are there to administer justice to all. They resolve disputes, interpret the constitution and the laws of Zambia, promote the rule of law, and protect the human rights of individuals and groups without favors.

“Mr. Lungu’s time to intimidate judges is gone and even his cadres know that they can no longer be told to camp at the courts of law to force judgments in Mr. Lungu’s favour,” Mr. Mwikisa said.