LAZ OPPOSES LUNGU

Tue, 07 Mar 2017 07:44:22 +0000

By AARON CHIYANZO

IT IS unethical for the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) which was created under an Act of Parliament to join a case in which the opposition has an interest and tohire a lawyer who has been representing the opposition UPND in the petition against the elections, former UPND deputy spokesperson Edwin Lifwekelo has charged.

LAZ has been joined to the action in the ConCourt in which some parties have sought guidance on President Lungu’s eligibility to stand for election in 2021.

Mr Lifwekelo said that it was clear that LAZ was opposed to President Edgar Lungu’s election as Head of State because they were sympathizing with the opposition.

Mr Lifwekelo said in an interview with the Daily Nation that LAZ was not supposed to take a stance in support of the opposition as they were only supposed to get involved on matters of national interest.

He pointed out that defending the opposition on almost anything was not part of LAZ’s mandate but an act tantamount to being in opposition of President Lungu.

Mr Lifwekelo challenged LAZ to declare interest in the matter where President Lungu’s eligibility to contest the 2021 elections is being challenged instead of hiring lawyers who have always represented the opposition. 

“LAZ was created under an Act of parliament and so they are more like a public institution hence are supposed to be nonpartisan. Its highly unethical for them to join a case in which the opposition have got a clear interest in and have now gone ahead to hire a lawyer John Nsangwa whom they know represented Mr Hichilema in the election petition” he said.

Mr Lifwekelo emphasized that LAZ was in opposition of President Lungu and that they were fighting on the side of the opposition.

Meanwhile, Mr Lifwekelo said that LAZ should be disbanded if it did not declare interest in the election petition.

He said that a new executive which was nonpartisan, not compromised in its role and ready to serve the interest of the Zambian people should be put in place.