…. As Mwila becomes second official to play Pontius Pilate over attacks on Judiciary
By Bennie Mundando
THE Patriotic Front (PF) has denied its Lusaka Province chairperson Paul Moonga twice over his statement in which he castigated the Judiciary.
During a press briefing at the PF Secretariat on Friday, March 5, 2021. Mr. Moonga claimed that the opposition was trying to bribe Judges to disqualify President Edgar Lungu from standing in the August election.
He said the PF was aware that by October last year, the opposition constituted a team of lawyers to be on standby, waiting to petition President Lungu’s eligibility once he files his nomination.
PF deputy Secretary General, Mumbi Phiri, distanced the ruling party from Mr. Moonga’s claims saying the party respected the rule of law and the independence of the Judiciary.
But Mr. Moonga has maintained his position over the matter as quoted by some tabloids today and has told off Ms. Phiri, asking her to remain in her lane as she is not his boss.
However, party Secretary General Davies Mwila has stepped into the fray, maintaining that Mr. Moonga’s utterances alleging that some judges of the Constitutional Court are colluding with some opposition lawyers in a bribery scheme to disqualify President Edgar Lungu from contesting the 2021 general elections have no blessing from the party.
Mr. Mwila said the issue of President Lungu’s eligibility was a dead issue that was conclusively dealt with by the Constitutional Court of Zambia as the Constitutional Court ruled that President Lungu was eligible to contest the 2021 elections.
He reiterated that the ruling party believed in the rule of law and the doctrine of separation of powers.
“We, as a party in Government, believe in the principle of the rule of law and the doctrine of separation of powers. We respect the decisions of the Courts and the checks and balances that the Judiciary give to the Government. This can be demonstrated by our past actions and we have been consistent when it comes to complying with the decisions of the courts.
“We recently complied with the court judgment to ensure that all former ministers who served after the dissolution of Parliament pay back the money in accordance with the judgment of the Constitutional Court. We are not like other political party leaders who disparage the judiciary whenever a judgment goes against them,” Mr. Mwila said.
“They are on record, trying to mislead the public that President Edgar Lungu is not eligible to contest the 2021 elections when the Constitutional Court already ruled on the matter. The decision of the Constitutional Court is final and it cannot be challenged in any Court in Zambia.
“I would like to issue a strong instruction to all members of the Patriotic Front to desist from issuing any statements against the judiciary. The party will take stern disciplinary action against anyone who will defy this order,” he warned.
