ConCourt judgement: LAZ takes on Lubinda

WE are deeply disturbed by Justice Minister Given Lubinda’s denial to comply with the judgment of the Constitutional Court for minister who stayed in office illegally to pay back monies they got, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has said.

But Mr Lubinda said in an interview yesterday that he would soon give a comprehensive statement over the matter.

LAZ in a statement yesterday said the unfortunate statements by the Minister, if true, were a serious assault on the rule of law and constitutionalism in the country and were a recipe for anarchy.

The association said it was seriously concerned that such statements were being attributed to the Minister of Justice, who should be in the forefront to champion the rule of law and respect for decisions of legitimately constituted courts.

The rule of law demands that any decision of a court of law must be obeyed by all parties affected by it unless there is a stay of execution of the decision or unless the decision is overturned by an appellate court, part statement said.

LAZ has also called upon the Attorney General, the Secretary to the Cabinet and the Secretary to the Treasury to ensure that the money that the Ministers were paid was recovered without further delay as the funds belong to the public.

“In the meantime, LAZ will continue engaging its lawyers in the matter to pursue all lawful avenues to ensure that the judgment of the Constitutional Court is enforced,” the statement said.