‘State Counsels demonising govt, instead of advising’

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has challenged the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to revisit the condition of elevating lawyers to the status of State Counsel to enhance dignity and honour of the office. And newly elected LAZ president, Abyudi Shonga and his executive have assured the head of State that the association would be neutral and not take a partisan stance in the execution of its duties. President Lungu said it was disappointing that some State Counsels had taken a partisan stance instead of objectively advising Government on national legal matters as expected of them. He was speaking when Mr Shonga and his executive paid him a courtesy call at State House yesterday in Lusaka, Mr Lungu noted that of late, some State Counsels were publicly demonising his government without formally writing or approaching him to profer advice. He said it did not make sense for some State Counsels to assume a political stance by continuously demonising the executive and institutions such as the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) which they were supposed to advise when legal matters arose. He wondered why some State Counsels and other senior lawyers were finding it difficult to approach him on matters they felt were done wrongly more especially that as a lawyer himself, he was one of them. “State Counsels are lawyers for the state so to speak, and the State can call upon a State Counsel to render advice. But, unfortunately what we see in Zambia, State Counsels are busy demonising the Judiciary, executive and everyone else. President Lungu said LAZ was supposed to take a leading role in protecting institutions of governance by offering sound legal advice and not assuming an opposition stance. And President Lungu said his Government was committed to ensuring that the 2021 general elections were free and fair by following the laid down rules and procedures. Meanwhile, Mr Shonga said the association under him intends to be neutral and non-political when carrying out its mandate. Mr Shonga who called for closer ties with Government to deal with various national pressing matters such as the constitution-making process asked President Lungu to accord LAZ an open-door policy so that it could contribute positively. He also appealed to the President to create opportunities for the many unemployed graduate lawyers.