Pay up, Cabinet Ministers told
CABINET should demonstrate boldness in seeking an enforcement of the Constitutional Court order which ruled that then former ministers who remained in office after dissolution of Parliament ahead of 2016 general elections should pay back the money they accrued, says Chilufya Tayali.
Mr Tayali, the Economic and Equity Party (EPP) president has urged the Cabinet chaired by President Edgar Lungu to discuss the judgment of the Concourt that ordered the 96 ministers to comply with the directives contained in the Concourt Judgment.
Mr Tayali told the Daily Nation that court orders represent the power of the Judiciary as an arm of government exercising its constitutional role, adding that disregarding a court order means going against the Republic itself, a precedent that many will now follow.
He urged President Lungu to ensure that during the cabinet meeting the judgement of the Concourt should be discussed, adding that ministers should comply with the Concourt Judgment by paying back the money.
He said government should tell the Zambians direction and modalities on how the ministers will make the refunds.
Mr Tayali said insubordination of the Judiciary threatens the maintenance of a well-functioning, lawful, and orderly republic.
In August 2016, the Constitution Court had ruled that ministers and their deputies who were in office illegally following the dissolution of Parliament in May 2016 vacate office and repay back all the monies such as allowances and salaries they were getting since Parliament was dissolved.
Meanwhile, Mr Tayali has also asked government to decriminalise Fanwell Siandenge who went into hiding in fear of being arrested for intercepting an Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) vehicle because the case was disposed of by the court.
Mr Tayali argued that Mr Siandenge and his co-accused, including Mr Obvious Mwaliteta, were acquitted hence the need to decriminalise him because none of the accused was convicted.
“It is also over one year since Fanwell Siandenge went in hiding for fear of being arrested for intercepting ECZ vehicle. But the case went to court and all his co-accused, including Mwaliteta, were acquitted.
“The Inspector General of Police had offered a reward of K100, 000 to anyone who would help in arresting Siandenge. Todate that criminal tag is still on Siandenge and he is a fugitive on a case that has already been disposed of by the courts,” Mr Tayali said.
He added, “I do not support the actions of Siandenge and others, what they did was wrong, which is why I never said anything on Mwaliteta, but the court acquitted them, therefore, we all have to respect the judgment.”