Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has suspended three high judges over alleged judicial misconduct, prompting accusations of political interference within the judiciary.
In 2016, the three Constitutional Court docket judges dismissed President Hichilema’s petition, wherein he challenged the election victory of former President Edgar Lungu.
In addition they took half in a controversial ruling permitting Lungu to face within the 2021 elections, regardless of having twice served as Zambia’s president.
Political tensions are rising in Zambia forward of elections in 2026, when Hichilema and Lungu are anticipated to face one another for a fourth time.
The three have been because of be a part of a bench sitting on Thursday in a case which might determine whether or not Lungu can contest these elections.
The judges’ suspension, which has sparked sharp reactions, was primarily based on suggestions by a panel which investigates them, the presidency mentioned.
The suspended judges – Justice Annie Sitali, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, and Justice Palan Mulonda – are but to touch upon the matter.
The trio have been investigated by the Judicial Complaints Fee (JCC), following a criticism by lawyer Joseph Busenga over their judicial conduct.
Mr Busenga, who now works as a diplomat on the Zambian embassy in Belgium, in 2022 petitioned the JCC to take away the three judges from workplace citing the “improper method” wherein they’d dealt with the 2016 presidential election petition.
They dominated in opposition to Hichilema and in favour of Lungu, the person he finally changed.
After two years of investigations, President Hichilema on Monday suspended them on the advice of the JCC, the presidency mentioned.
“The suspensions of the three is in train of the powers vested within the president,” the presidency assertion said, with out giving additional particulars.
The transfer sparked sharp criticism, with Lungu’s Patriotic Entrance (PF) saying the suspension was unlawful.
“I wish to say to the Zambian those who the time has come so that you can get up and combat the injustice which is being utilized to the judiciary as a result of after we lose the judiciary, we might have misplaced every thing,” Lungu instructed journalists on Tuesday.
Activists have additionally accused President Hichilema of meddling within the independence of the judiciary.
Neither the president nor his workplace have responded to the accusation.
Nevertheless, some argue that the judiciary has already turn out to be politicised.
Social and political commentator Laura Miti says the judges should be sacked however the president is not less than partly motivated by revenge.
“My trustworthy view is that the judges harmed the nation and now and the president is doing the identical,” she wrote on her Fb web page.
The judges’ suspension comes barely 48 hours earlier than the Constitutional Court docket sits to listen to Lungu’s re-opened eligibility case.
The previous president has announced a political comeback and is about to contest subsequent yr’s presidential race – in opposition to Hichilema.
“It’s an especially harmful political recreation that Hichilema is enjoying over this need to exclude Lungu,” political analyst Sishuwa Sishuwa posted on X.
The three judges will now undergo a disciplinary process, after which they are going to both be faraway from the bench or be reinstated.
Below Zambia’s structure, all judges, together with the chief justice, are appointed by the president upon the advice of the JCC and with the approval of the Nationwide Meeting.
Critics say the president’s involvement within the appointment and removing of judges compromises the independence of the judiciary.
