Sat, 14 Oct 2017 10:24:32 +0000
By Mukosela Kasalwe
THE Law Association of Zambia has been commended for defending Constitutional Court Judges from unsubstantiated attacks by UPND leader Haikande Hichilema.
The association has also been urged to be consistent on issues of national interest.
Third Liberation Movement president Enock Tonga, told the Daily Nation yesterday in an interview that LAZ had realised that it may soon hit a brick wall if it was partisan in its analysis of legal issues.
Mr Tonga said the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) was not a political party and that it should endeavour to be seen in that manner and serve the interest of the nation with impartial analysis of legal matters.
Commenting on the caution by LAZ yesterday, advising UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema to stop making unsubstantiated allegations of corruption against Constitution Court Judges, the opposition leader implored the entity to take a firm and uncompromising stance.
Mr Tonga said in the past most people had mistaken LAZ for allegedly favouring the UPND at the expense of its core mandate to offer unbiased legal guidance.
He said Mr Hichilema needed to provide evidence for his allegations unlike disparaging Constitutional Court Judges who could not defend themselves in the media.
“As Third Liberation Movement we feel LAZ has realised that it may soon hit a brick wall and we commend them for their firm stance against UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema on attacks against Constitutional Court Judges.
“This is what we expect from LAZ, it must serve the nation’s interest above anything else and provide unbiased legal guidance,” Mr Tonga said.
LAZ president Linda Kasonde sharply criticised the UPND leader for alleging that some Constitutional Court judges were corrupt.
Ms Kaonde said LAZ was interested in the preservation of the Judiciary as an institution that was mandated to uphold the rule of law, justice and integrity in the nation.
