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By BARNABAS ZULU
PRINCESS Kasune, has strongly denied allegations that government is intimidating the Judiciary, stating that the doctrine of the separation of powers should at all times be respected and allow the third arm of government to discharge its mandate of dispensing justice without fear or interference.
Ms Kasune said the perception that government has been harassing and intimidating the Judiciary was not only wrong as the Hakainde Hichilema administration is devoted to respecting and honouring the doctrine of the separation of powers.
“Now coming to the allegations, if you are sworn into office, you need to uphold justice, which is the function of the Judiciary. Us, in the Ministry of Justice, we are from the executive side. So, they need to do that. If they start to intimidate people in the judiciary, that will be wrong,” she said.
“We are all sworn to be stewards of this nation. They say that: ‘the world is like a bone, you eat some and leave it for the next person.’ So, when we are given these offices, we need to do the right thing for the people of Zambia by ensuring that whatever is within our mandate, justice prevails,” she said in an interview.
Ms Kasune, the Justice Minister has stressed the importance of respecting the independence of the Judiciary and ensuring that justice was delivered impartially.
Her comments come after several stakeholders, including the USA, raised grave concerns with what they described as political interference in the judicial system.
Former President Edgar Lungu revealed that some judges had confided in him, expressing concern that fear had gripped the Judiciary, causing them to hesitate in presiding over cases involving the state.
M Kasune said the role of the Judiciary was to uphold justice, and that all offices, including the Ministry of Justice, should support their function and mandate.
She, however dismissed assertions and perceptions that the Judiciary was under attack by the executive and was being intimidated, calling the allegations “frivolous” but stated that if there were intimidations, then it is wrong.
The Minister also stressed that while political figures were entitled to their opinions, it was the responsibility of those in office to do what was right and to protect the integrity of the judicial system.
“For me, I don’t think those allegations are correct because they are fraudulent. He (Zambia’s Sixth President Edgar Lungu) has a right to say whatever he wants. But it is for us who are in different offices to do what is right,” Ms Kasune said. “The Judiciary should do what is right, every person is innocent until proven guilty.”
She also reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the independence of the judiciary and that the ruling UPND is committed to supporting an impartial judicial process.
“In the right way and the way we, the UPND, have committed ourselves, is that the Judiciary should run its course with no intimidation or no fear,” Ms Kasune said.
She urged Zambians to take a firm stance against corruption and theft, emphasising that those who engage in criminal behaviour should understand the consequences.
