By KETRA KALUNGA
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has condemned calls by some senior officials and UPND cadres for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), Lillian Siyuni to resign failure to which they would protest.
And LAZ says they have written to the UPND Secretary General, Batuke Imenda expressing their concern over the matter and urging him to immediately address the situation within the party ranks to prevent the breakdown of the rule of law.
LAZ secretary, Sokwani Chilembo said the association was concerned that calls threatening the DPP were also echoed by persons holding leadership positions in the UPND.
Mr Chilembo said the rule of law demanded observance of the law in the conduct of public affairs by everyone and the ruling party was no exception.
He said in a statement that the ruling party must take the lead in upholding and respecting the rule of law because the office of the DPP was a constitutional office.
“The DPP is a constitutional office holder whose tenure is guaranteed up to retirement age of 60 years as provided by the law unless she resigns out of her own volition or is removed on the grounds stipulated in Article 143 which include mental or physical disability making her incapable of performing judicial functions, incompetence or gross misconduct,” Mr Chilembo said.
He said it was extremely important for the UPND officials, cadres or any citizen to follow the constitutional provisions and not resort to intimidating the DPP who was a constitutional office holder.
“Democratic principles can only be entrenched in the country if constitutional office holders such as the DPP are allowed to perform their functions without fear or favour and devoid of any intimidation,” Mr Chilembo said.
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