By Mubanga Mubanga
Ministry of Information and Media permanent secretary Thabo Kawana says whoever is going to lose in the Edgar Lungu vs Michelo Chizombe eligibility case must respect the outcome.
Speaking during the press briefing at Government complex today, Kawana said a court judgment going against someone was part of the court process.
He added that even the government had taken court cases where it won some and lost some, but they continued to respect the courts of law.
“Tomorrow the country will know and whatever the courts will pronounce will all be respected. There are people that have taken the matter to court and as we know, when people take matters to court, you either get a favorable outcome or unfavorable outcome,” Kawana said.
He also said there were many matters that the opposition political parties had taken to court and they have won.
“There are matters that opposition political parties have taken to court, and they have lost. What does it stand, that our points of meeting is at the courts of law, because that is where justice prevails. So let us respect the outcomes, because the outcome tomorrow is a case just like any other case judgment will come, and after that we can comment on the judgment,” he said.
Kawana was quick to mention that the government was not an interested party in the eligibility case of Lungu.
“We also know for a fact that the government is not an interested party in whatever judgment is going on tomorrow. Government has not taken anybody to court. We are also just going to listen and hear what the court has reviewed. There are parties that have taken each other to court, the government is not part of that,” Kawana said.
He also appealed to the Zambian public to desist from commenting on the matter, because judgment was yet to be delivered.
He warned that whoever was going to be arrested should not complain.
“We warn you the media, you shouldn’t discuss matters that are before courts. But you are seeing a lot of comments running, especially on social media pertaining to matters that are before courts. That is wrong to do,” said Kawana. “And when you are cited by the courts for doing so, you turn around and cry foul and say l have been targeted, democratic space is shrinking. It is because l am this tribe. No! You have broken the law. The law is very clear; don’t comment about matters that are before courts.”
