Mon, 05 Dec 2016 09:25:41 +0000
NAREP is disappointed with the drama being played by the Patriotic Front at the expense of national development. We have seen media houses being silenced whilst others have been forced to close down.
NAREP acting spokesperson Francis Sichone said the condemnation also extended to other political parties such as the United Party for National Development who have also passed undermining comments on our Judiciary. We do not support any of such utterances whether coming from the ruling party or those in opposition. Mr Sichone said the Judiciary’s autonomy should be upheld by all stakeholders and it should be left to operate to its optimum best. We urge President Lungu to take caution with how he is handling national affairs.
Considering that he himself is a lawyer, our expectation is that he should understand the importance of according both LAZ and the Judiciary the necessary credence and dignity they deserve. “We observe too that through their Secretary General Mr. Davies Mwila, the Patriotic Front has declared war against the Law Association of Zambia and took the uncouth liberty to declaring the LAZ president, a citizen of Zambia, Ms Linda Kasonde “a hostile political force”.
Surely this does not make any political and republican sense. In her capacity as President of LAZ, Ms. Kasonde carries the mandate of the association with every weight intended and does not represent her personal views. She carries the views of the organisation and what she tabulates and expresses in her official capacity is a reflection of the views carried by LAZ members professionally,” Mr Sichone said. He said it was in the interest of the PF to be reminded that LAZ operated independently and this had always been the case. As such, the PF has no basis for engaging LAZ into politics. He stated that NAREP was under no doubt that the utterances against the judiciary bordered on threats and intimidation to the legal houses.
We would not be surprised if the calling of a splinter group of lawyers is being sponsored by the selfishness of the politicians aligned to the oppressive tactics of the ruling party as observed from a press statement released by some small political parties. “LAZ will remain a vital organisation to our legal system, therefore Zambians should not allow for multiple replica organisations to carry out identical functions to LAZ as that is a quick recipe for anarchy,” Mr Sichone said.
