By Isaac Zulu
Mwenya Musenge says the Judiciary is still compromised under the UPND administration, just like it was under the Patriotic Front government.
Speaking in an interview, Musenge who is Advocates for People’s Prosperity leader and former Copperbelt Province minister, said the Judiciary has remained compromised despite the change of government.
He explained that most Zambians, including him, anticipated that the UPND administration, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema; would guarantee the independence of governance institutions, including the Judiciary; but this has not been the case.
“From his campaign messages, President Hakainde Hichilema demonstrated some brilliance, articulated issues that gave hope to majority citizens that he was going to address pertinent issues affecting the general populace. And most of us thought that we are going see some legal reforms as well as Judicial reforms,” Musenge explained. “Unfortunately, the Judiciary has remained compromised, despite the change of government. It was worse under the Patriotic Front government, but the trend has continued even under the UPND administration.”
He said the Judiciary has continued to deliver some questionable rulings and judgments, just like was the case in the PF.
“During the Edgar Lungu led Patriotic Front government, the independence of institutions of governance was not guaranteed – the Judiciary for instance was compromised. For instance, we all knew that ba President Edgar Chagwa Lungu had served two terms of office, as per Constitution. But the Judiciary opted to interpret the Constitution this way and that way. Until ba Edgar Chagwa Lungu went for a third term because of a compromised judicial system. For me, that was not right. That was not right,” Musenge said. “In the interest of good governance, we expected the Judiciary to be totally independent under the UPND administration. Alas, we have continued see a compromised Judiciary and other law enforcement agencies.”
He recalled that despite the change of senior judicial officers by the UPND administration, under the leadership of President Hakainde Hichilema, the Judiciary has failed to perform its duties autonomously.
“We saw the rulings in the Kwacha and Kabushi parliamentary by-elections. The decisions or rulings that were made regarding those two parliamentary by-elections were questionable, pathetic. Highly pathetic,” Musenge said.
Musenge has since urged the men and women in robes to discharge their duties professionally and ensure that the integrity of the Judiciary is protected.
“The Judiciary should discharge its duties professionally, without political interference from the Executive or the appointing authority so as to ensure that they restore and maintain their integrity and dignity. Our Judiciary should be men and women of high integrity. And I personally expect the Judiciary to be above board the execution of their duties, with integrity and dignity,” said Musenge.
