Fri, 11 Aug 2017 10:21:00 +0000
By Sandra Machima and Aaron Chiyanzo
He wondered what kind of dictatorship it was, which he said was the very basis of joy for the opposition and their sympathizers.
Dr Banda reiterated that seeing things only in their way, had become a pitfall common for the opposition in Zambia.
He advised that people should accept that things would not always go their way, as such attitudes forestalls conflict.
Dr Banda emphasised that the Zambian judicial system was not as malicious as the opposition had always claimed, as they now rejoiced and poked fun at the State for losing cases.
“As the opposition will testify, our judicial system is not as malicious as they have claimed. Today, in praise of this same judicial system and individual legal practitioners, they rejoice as they poke fun at the Republican President for losing cases, noting that this same Judiciary has met their expectations.
“Acquittals of their cadres are a common occurrence in our Judiciary. Such conduct is at variance with what they keep alleging that Zambia is a dictatorship. What kind of dictatorship is this, which is the very basis of joy in the opposition? The mind boggles,” he said.
Meanwhile, Dr Banda said that it raised suspicion when philanthropists like former Nigerian President Olesugun Obasanjo engaged in conflict resolutions in other countries, as an emissary of his own heart.
He said that it was better for such leaders to be an emissary of organisations such as ECOWAS, SADC or the AU.
Dr Banda also advised that as people pursued the resolution of conflicts, they must be wary not to create new ones by ignoring the provisions of existing laws.
“It is not uncommon in this endeavour to abet a crime as communities pursue sectarian interests. Our efforts at resolving conflicts must always be within a given and permissible legal framework,” he said.
Dr Banda however said that statesmen like President Obasanjo should be encouraged as the rule of law stood in the way of whatever plans they might have.
He also advised Government to find out or investigate exactly what made President Obasanjo come and if he was really a “lone ranger.”
And assertions by the UPND that the Judiciary is biased is unfounded and unfortunate and merely shows that the party is in denial and will never want to be proved wrong, Church of God Cathedral of Miracles senior pastor Naison Nyonyo has said.
Meanwhile, National Congress Party president Peter Chanda has maintainedd that the Judiciary was independent and not working under interference as perceived by the UPND.
Bishop Nyonyo wondered why the UPND still doubts the Judiciary when decisions from there favoured them.
“It is the same UPND that had been saying the Judiciary is biased and yet they are benefitting from the same, now one wonders which Judiciary is in favour of the UPND if at all the one in place is biased,” he said.
The clergyman explained that Zambia was a democratic nation with laws of the land, saying it was the duty of the Judiciary to do its job without any interference.
Bishop Nyonyo said the acquittal of former Kafue member of Parliament Obvious Mwaliteta by the courts was evidence enough that the government had no hand in the operation of the Judiciary.
And Mr Chanda said the acquittal of Mr Mwaliteta and former Chongwe MP Sylvia Masebo showed that the Judiciary was not influenced by anyone but did their work freely.
Mr Chanda said there was no doubt that Zambians wanted an independent and impartial Judiciary that would dispense justice without regard to political affiliation or indeed any other consideration other than the law, as was the case.
