Zambian court removes cabinet ministers before election

By Francis Maingaila

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) – Zambia’s Constitutional Court has dismissed government ministers and their deputies who had kept their jobs ahead of the country’s presidential election on Thursday, despite parliament being dissolved.

The court also ordered them to pay back their salaries.

Monday’s judgment claims the decision by President Edgar Lungu to keep ministers in office after the dissolution of parliament violated the constitution.

Some have described the ruling as an academic exercise which will have no effect on Thursday’s poll.

Former Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP) Executive Director Macdonald Chipenzi told Anadolu Agency: “While we welcome this judgment we feel it has come a bit too late.

“Had this judgment come much earlier, the opposition would have used it as a campaign platform to discredit the Patriotic Front [PF] government for using public resources to woo supporters in this campaign.”

The Attorney General of Zambia was not immediately available for comment at the time of going to press.

The Law Association of Zambia had challenged the decision by Lungu to allow the ministers to remain in office after the dissolution of parliament.

It was claimed the decision violated the Electoral Code of Conduct could be using public resources for campaigning purposes.

The Constitutional Court has the final say on matters relating to the interpretation of the constitution and the ruling cannot be appealed in the Supreme Court.