Lungu wins kudos over ICC consultative process

Wed, 05 Apr 2017 10:28:24 +0000

By JACK MAPAPAYI

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has been praised for allowing the people of Zambia to decide whether Zambia should withdraw from the International Criminal Court (ICC) or remain as a member.

North Western Development Council of Elders chairperson Lucas Chikoti told the Daily Nation in an interview the Head of State was aware of the decisions other African countries have taken over their ICC membership.

Mr Chikoti said President Lungu should be commended for taking a bold stance by consulting the people of Zambia over the matter.

“Because if he wanted he would have made the decision with Cabinet ministers and it ends there. So, for this the Head of State should be commended,” Mr Chikoti said.

He said President Lungu understood that although he was the Head of State, he did not have the overall authority to make a decision on such an important issue on behalf of the people of Zambia.

“And whichever way the people of Zambia will decide, he has to go with that. That is why we are thanking his leadership because a person who makes such decisions is a good leader.

“We have seen in many countries as long as somebody was elected president he would come up with any decision even when his people do not want to go in that direction,” he said.

He appealed to people to turn out in large numbers and help the nation decide which direction to go.

Meanwhile, Ministry of Justice corporate policy analyst Rodney Machila has described the ICC public sittings in Solwezi as overwhelming.

Mr Machila said people urged members of the public to continue making their submissions through the district commissioner’s office until April 20.

“Now, these will be written and not oral submissions. So people can continue taking their submissions until April 20,” he said.