Mon, 06 Nov 2017 10:48:03 +0000
By Mukosela Kasalwe
UPND leader Hakainde Hichilema risks being re-arrested for calling on Zambians to rise and defend judges from alleged attacks by President Edgar Lungu which is tantamount to anarchy, says former UPND deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo.
Mr Lifwekelo said in as much as Mr Hichilema was free to express himself on any matter, he needed to tread carefully as he was walking on a thin line because he was on a nolle prosequi and that he risked being re-arrested for urging citizens to rise and defend judges from alleged attacks by President Lungu.
He said the remarks attributed to the opposition leader, urging Zambians to rise and defend the judges against President Lungu’s alleged attacks was an indirect way of urging citizens to rise against a duly elected President and that it was aimed to bring about anarchy.
And former UPND presidential adviser Edward Mumbi castigated Mr Hichilema for urging Zambians to rise and defend judges saying it was wrong and in bad taste.
Mr Mumbi said President Lungu was on firm ground and that it was his constitutional right to give guidance to the judges where necessary.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Lifwekelo said the Head of State was empowered by Article 122(4) of the Republican Constitution to protect the independence of the Judiciary so that it did not act on the basis of adverse external influences.
He said President Lungu provided caution to the judges to act independently with dignity and effectiveness in the manner they discharged their duties and that that was not a threat.
