LAZ succumbs to emergency meeting demands

Tue, 18 Apr 2017 10:00:57 +0000

By NATION REPORTER

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has finally succumbed to demands for an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) to be held before end of this month as cracks in the association over its governance by its current executive widen.

In a letter to one of the lawyers not amused with its current leadership, Mr Kelvin Bwalya Fube, dated April 11, 2017 LAZ honorary secretary Sadi Kateka says the planned meeting will be held before the end of April.

Mr Sadi said the association had now accepted to hold an emergency meeting before the end of April in compliance with statutory period for holding such an impromptu meeting.

Mr Sadi however said the holding of the Emergency General Meeting before the end of this month had been constrained by expenses and the likelihood of poor attendance due to the fact that the AGM would be held on 6th May, , a day after the impromptu meeting.

But Mr Bwalya said that the response to the request by the LAZ council could only be made after discussions with the other affected lawyer.

He explained that he could not make any decision alone because there were about four lawyers who were interested parties.

Mr Bwalya however said that he had been finding it difficult to get in touch with the other affected colleagues.

Mr Said said LAZ had now started pleading with its members demanding for the Emergency General Meeting to allow the association hold the impromptu meeting on May 5 which was only a day before the annual general meeting (AGM) in Livingstone.

He pleaded that Mr Fube, popularly known as KBF should instead consider withdrawing his request for the holding of the EGM he had sent to LAZ on 31st March 2017 so that he could reissue the same demand for the meeting to be instead held on 5th May 2017 in Livingstone.

Mr Sadi said the LAZ council was willing to amend the proposed programme of the annual conference and the AGM activities which would result in the inclusion of the Emergency General Meeting.

He explained that the LAZ Council had considered the contents of Mr Fube’s letter demanding for Emergency General Meeting and the attachment proposing of holding of the impromptu meeting.

“We considered holding the EGM before the close of April, 2017 to comply with the statutory period for holding the EGM but have been constrained by the expense and the likelihood of poor attendance due to the fact that the AGM will be held only a few days later on 6th May, 2017,

“We are therefore proposing to you that we hold the EGM a day before the scheduled AGM IN Livingstone on 5thMay, 2017. If you are agreeable, kindly withdraw the request for an EGM that you sent to us on 31st March, 2017 and reissue it so that the statutory time for holding the EGM can commence with the reissued request for an EGM which will allow us hold the EGM on 5th May 2017 in Livingstone,” the letter read in part.

Mr Sadi said time was of essence and Mr Fube should therefore notify LAZ of his position over  the proposal to withdraw his demand for the EGM to be held by no later than 12:00 hours on 12th April, 2017 to enable the Council amend the proposed programme of the AGM to include the EGM.

The letter to Mr Fube was copied to LAZ president, its vice-president, honourary secretary, executive director, Terrence Mwape Cgabu, Kondwani Musukwa, Robson Malipenga and Kabwe Central Patriotic Front (PF) Member of Parliament, Tutwa Ngulube.