The resignation of justice Emelia Sunkutu after 31 years of legal service at the hands of President Hichilema is sad and disturbing.
At the hands of President Hichilema judges Palan Mulonda, Mungeni Mulenga, Anne Sitali, former DPP Mrs. Siyuni have all be hounded out of legal office.
This is nothing less than a sustained assault on the judiciary by the republican president using state machinery to push his agenda.
As Golden Party of Zambia, GPZ we opine that the suspensions and dismissals of judges has compromised the quality of judgements especially in politically exposed cases.
There’s no doubt the President Hichilema and his administration have inappropriately “touched” the blinded folded lady justice.
We fear that this sustained legal assault will further erode public confidence in the Judiciary, which is already at its lowest in recent times.
The executives overreach on the judiciary demonstrate our Country needs to further amend our statutes to insulate the judges from political maneuvers.
We urge President Hichilema to refrain from this judicial warpath and promote separation of powers amongst the 3 wings of government.
Silavwe Jackson
President
GPZ.
05|06|2025
When a leader of a Potitical party exhibits this kind of ignorance, one wonders how you can the lead a country and its citizens enjoy the fruits of the country.
Silavwe like most did not address nor look at the facts. He did what most politicans do; jump to conclusion.
Why was Sunkuntu suspended and led to her resignation? A cpmplaint was failed against her. She failed to deliver Judgement on matters before her from 1993 and 2002.
This is 32 years of parties waiting for a c
Verdict in one matter and 23 years in the others.
We go to courts to seek justice not for judges to treat us badly cause they have the power to. That is abuse. This woman abused her position.
Are the parties even still alive? Will they ever see justice? Its this kind of attitude that one wonders the arrogance and posturing of political leaders that have for year ignored victims of justice.
Mr. Silavwe you need to be embarassed at your statement and owe the parties these cases an apology. How very immature and embarassing that you can rush to make such a statement deviod of facts.
Ba Zambian Observer, report facts. News Diggers reported the basis of the formerJudge’s resignation. She acknowledges how she erred, by resigning.
You dont help build this nation by reporting one aspect of a story.
The appointment of judges is done publicly. They also appear before a special committee of Parliament. If their departure is unceremonial, it’s probably fair that reasons for their leaving be disclosed just to neutralise the poisonous commentaries that we have started seeing already. Former judge Sunkutu is now a free agent. Those who have very strong suspicions about her premature departure would do themselves a great favour by talking to her.
The same judge faced a tribunal investigation appointed by former president ECL for misconduct in 2015. Surely that shows that she has issues regarding how she handles herself in her profession so I don’t know some people would want make unnecessary conclusion about her now.
For a recommendation to be made to suspend her, there is certainly something she did not pleasing to the profession. These guys know each other better and they usually protect their own. I think this must not even be politicized. What Jackson should be asking about is where we are with the case of that randy young Lawyer who attempted to rape a woman in Livingstone during their annual retreat. What happened to that case? These guys protect each other.
I have a friend who had a matter awaiting delivery of Judgment since last year but not one of the Complainants before the JCC. Now, it means the matter has to be heard de-novo, and a big loss and injustice.
The same judge faced a tribunal investigation appointed by former president ECL for misconduct in 2015. Surely that shows that she has issues regarding how she handles herself in her profession so I don’t know some people would want make unnecessary conclusion about her now.
This is straight forward issue. This judge has matters she presided over one in the 90s and another one I believe in 2002 to which she had not judgement. She was also suspended in 2013 for a similar issue. Read the post, it says she gave reasons to the JCC why she couldn’t deliver judgement and as a result offered to resign. All these opposition leaders are corrupt!