Longwe seeks judicial review over HH presidency

By NATION REPORTER LONG-TIME UPND member Charles Longwe says he has sought judicial review over matters surrounding President Hakainde Hichilema’s presidency, saying that his action is intended to uphold the rule of law and enforce the Bill of Rights. Mr Longwe, who has been a controversial figure within the governing party, said in an interview yesterday that his court action was fundamentally about democracy, constitutionalism and ensuring that the different arms of Government perform their respective oversight roles. “The responsibility of these checks and balances are the responsibility of the different wings of the one Government, the legislature, the executive and judiciary. But they don’t move themselves. Somebody has to move the courts,” Mr Longwe said. He said citizens should not remain silent when institutions are undermined, stating that those responsible must be required to explain their actions. “If we just keep quiet, some people assume that, oh, when they close the courts, it’s okay. No, no, no. They have to be held to account and they need to give their side of the story,” the UPND gold holding member said. Mr Longwe questioned the explanation that security concerns had necessitated the closure of the courts, saying the authorities should clearly explain what threat existed. “If there was a security risk, let them explain. What security risk was it? What was it which could suspend them?” he asked. He contrasted the situation with the Covid-19 pandemic, when the closure of courts was accompanied by restrictions affecting other institutions, including schools. “During COVID, we knew what what it was. When the courts were closed, even schools were closed. Now, what kind of security risk was this, which only affected the courts? It didn’t affect the schools,” Mr Longwe said. “We want to know. And somebody shouldn’t be using that as an excuse. They shouldn’t get away.” Mr Longwe said allowing such actions to go unchallenged could create a dangerous precedent where other aspects of citizens’ lives could be restricted on the basis of unspecified security concerns. “Next time they will close our bedroom. We will not enter. They will close the bedrooms and say, no, your house has a security risk,” he said. Mr Longwe also dismissed suggestions that his actions were part of a Government-sponsored agenda. “I’m not a state project. I am not an experiment for people to use. I’m not somebody’s tool. I just follow the rule of law,” he said. Mr Longwe said he expected his colleagues in the UPND and those who had been appointed into Government to equally respect the rule of law. “I expect my colleagues who are in the administration, in the party, who have been seconded, they are now in Government, they should also work by the rule of law. We all follow the rule of law,” he said. Mr Longwe, who has been a card-carrying UPND member since 2001, said his political activism should not be confused with lawlessness. He said he had not spoken to President Hichilema since the night of the 2021 election when the two were together. “Since he (President Hichilema) was sworn in I have never spoken to him,” Mr Longwe said. He, however, said he continued to interact with people around the President, whom he said were his “friends.”

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Longwe seeks judicial review over HH presidency