\n
\u00a0Zambia\u2019s Pres\u00adident Hakainde Hichilema has now sacked three top judges he pre\u00adviously suspended over alleged judicial misconduct, drawing further accusations of political interference in the judi\u00adciary.<\/p>\n
The three Constitutional Court judges presided over a presidential petition in 2016 in which they dismissed Hichilema\u2019s challenge against the election victory of former President Edgar Lungu.<\/p>\n
They also took part in a con\u00adtroversial ruling allowing Lungu to stand in the 2021 elections, despite having twice served as Zambia\u2019s president.<\/p>\n
Their dismissal comes after they lost a court application for a re\u00adview of a judicial panel\u2019s decision recommending their suspension.<\/p>\n
On Sunday evening, a statement released by the presidency said they had been \u201cremoved with immediate effect\u201d following a recommendation by the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).<\/p>\n
\u201cThe removal of the judges is in exercise of the powers vested in the President under [the Zam\u00adbian constitution],\u201d it said.<\/p>\n
The three judges \u2013 Justice Annie Sitali, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, and Justice Palan Mulonda \u2013 have not publicly commented on the matter.<\/p>\n
The JCC had investigated them over allegations of gross miscon\u00adduct following a complaint by Moses Kalonde, a private citizen.<\/p>\n
Last year, the JCC rejected a complaint from lawyer Joseph Busenga, who had petitioned for the removal of the three judges, alleging that they had mishandled the 2016 election petition.<\/p>\n
There has been mixed reactions to the dismissal of the judges.<\/p>\n
Political tensions have been in rising in Zambia ahead of elections in 2026, when Hichilema and Lungu are expected to face each other for a fourth time.<\/p>\n
Social and political commen\u00adtator Laura Miti says informed Zambians are split between those who feel this is a legal but self-serving move by the president and others who back him.<\/p>\n
\u201cMy view is that the judges misbehaved spectacularly in the presidential petition in 2016. That being true this comes across as the president exacting revenge for their judgment which is highly concerning,\u201d she told the BBC.<\/p>\n
But Makebi Zulu, Lungu\u2019s law\u00adyer in the case, termed the move an \u201cillegality\u201d telling the BBC that \u201cit was executive overreach aimed at interfering with the indepen\u00addence of the judiciary\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo judge should be disciplined for carrying out their judicial function,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Under Zambia\u2019s constitution, all judges, including the chief justice, are appointed by the president upon the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and with the approval of the National Assembly.<\/p>\n
\u2014BBC<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\u00a0Zambia\u2019s Pres\u00adident Hakainde Hichilema has now sacked three top judges he pre\u00adviously suspended over alleged judicial misconduct, drawing further accusations of political interference in the judi\u00adciary. The three Constitutional Court judges presided over a presidential petition in 2016 in which they dismissed Hichilema\u2019s challenge against the election victory of former President Edgar Lungu. They also […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":236771,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-236770","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-top-news"],"yoast_head":"\n
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