LAZ BANS MARTHA MUSHIPE
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has suspended United Party for National Development (UPND) lawyer Martha Mushipe for alleged misconduct during hearing of the 2016 Presidential election petition in the Constitutional Court.
In an interview yesterday, LAZ president Eddie Mwitwa confirmed Ms. Mushipe’s suspension arising from a complaint made by the Constitutional Court to the association against her. “That is real. We have been dealing with this complaint by the Constitutional Court and that is the ruling. The issue will now be referred to the Disciplinary Committee which will determine the matter,” Mr. Mwitwa said. He said depending on the outcome of the Committee’s proceedings, Ms. Mushipe’s case may be referred to the High Court for determination. According to a notice dated August 27, 2018 and signed by LAZ’s Legal Practitioners Committee Copperbelt Honorary Secretary Samuel Tumwasi and copied to Chief Justice Irene Mambilima, Deputy Chief Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa, Supreme Court Judges, High Court Judges, Attorney General Likando Kalaluka, Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa, and Director of Public Prosecutions Lilian Shawa Siyunyi, Ms. Mushipe has been banned from practicing law with immediate effect. “By this notice, the said practitioner is not to appear in any Court of Law/Tribunal and should not file Court process of whatever nature until further notice. Since the firm under the name and style ‘Mushipe & Associates’ is a one man firm, it is further ordered that the said firm be closed with immediate effect,” the notice read in part. Others copied to are: the High Court Registrar, Industrial Relations Court Judges, Lands Tribunal Chairman, Revenue Appeals Tribunal Chairman, Master of the Supreme Court, Assistant Registrar, Clerks of Court, Registrar of Companies, the Lands Registrar, and all lawyers. Ms. Mushipe was accused of verbally abusing Constitutional Court judges during hearing of the ill-fated petition by UPND president Hakainde Hichilema and vice president Geoffrey Bwalya Mwamba against President Lungu’s re-election in the August 11, 2016 general elections.