LAZ political battle costs K5m
THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has been slapped with a K5, 000,000 legal bill following the Constitutional Court’s decision to dismiss its application to join the case in which four political parties want the court to determine if President Lungu is eligible to stand in the 2021 Presidential elections.
Constitutional Court Judge Professor Margaret Munalula dismissed LAZ’s application with costs and the four political parties now want the association to pay them the said amount as costs.
The applicants in the main matter are National Democratic Party (NDP), New Congress Party (NCP), Zambia Republican Party (ZRP), and Citizens Democratic Party (CDP). According to the amended Republican Constitution, any decision made by the Constitutional Court is final and not appealable.
The Daily Nation can confirm the K5, 000,000 demand against LAZ in a letter dated November 13, 2017 addressed to the association’s lawyers Messrs Simeza Sangwa & Associates by one the parties’ lawyers Sakwiba Sikota.
“RE: Dr Dan Pule and others Vs the Attorney General, Law Association of Zambia and others. We refer to the above matter in which the Hon. Justice Munalula had ordered costs against your client the Law Association of Zambia.
“We have conferred with the various advocates representing the four applicants in this matter and the agreed total costs they have arrived at are K5, 000,000.00. Kindly confirm when your clients will make the payment of these costs,” the letter reads.
The letter was copied to the applicants’ other lawyers Messrs Ellis and Company, Messrs Mvunga & Associates, and Messrs Robson Malipenga & Company.
Commenting on the demand, ZRP president Wright Musoma said the applicants wanted to show lawyers throughout the country how the Linda Kasonde-led LAZ Council was allegedly wasting their contributions by engaging the association in political battles.
“We are serious and they are going to pay because we want to teach Linda Kasonde a lesson and show the country how this lady, because of her leadership style, has cost LAZ when she knew that they did not have locus standi to join the case. What interest did they have as an association? You can’t use an association like that because LAZ is supposed to be independent.”