Don't Plunge the Country into Crisis Like Kenya's Supreme Court, Zambia President Edgar Lungu Warns
President Edgar Lungu of Zambia has cautioned the country's judiciary against plunging the country into chaos by barring him from contesting for the Presidency in the 2021 general elections.
Lungu told Zambian judges to avoid copying Kenyan Supreme Court judges who threw the country into crisis after invalidating President Uhuru's August 8th win.
Lungu's eligibility to defend his seat in 2021 is being challenged in court. Petitioners argue that he has exhausted his two terms in office as stated by the constitution. They argue that the period Lungu served after the demise of President Michael Sata in 2014 was his first term.
However, Lungu says he merely completed his predecessor's term, and that his first term began after the disputed 2016 election.
"To my colleagues in the judiciary, my message is just do your work, interpret the law without fear or favour and look at the best interest of this country. Don’t become a copycat and think that you are a hero if you plunge this country into chaos," he said while addressing supporters.
He added: "I want to close by saying that those people who don’t like peace and freedom will say President Lungu is intimidating the courts of law. I am not intimidating the judiciary. I am just warning you because I have information that some of you want to be adventurous. Your adventure should not plunge us into chaos, please...People are saying Zambian courts should emulate Kenyan courts... People are saying Zambian courts should be brave and make decisions which are in the interest of the people but look at what’s happening in Kenya now. I am saying the courts of law in Zambia should also see what’s happening. They should not behave like they are not part of our African continent. The most important thing I can say now is, 2021, I am available to stand if my party chooses me.”
Comments (8)
Well this is different, if you are done with your tenure, vacate the seat.
Mr. Lungu. Just SCRAP Your Country's Supreme Court:then Have it Your Way; if that's What You Want.
Mr.LUNGU, YOU ARE JUST BEHAVING LIKE A TYPICAL AFRICAN RULER eg Uhuru and Ruto so make your silly miscalculations at peril.
Mr. Lungu "Rungu" , u should pack your staff and go home. If the constitution says two terms u should obey that
and bow out peaceful. The Kenyan case is totally different because Uhuru had one more term, which he won of course. The
next election by law Uhuru Is not supposed not supposed to be contesting. Mr. Rungu just go home and relax ,your time in office is done.
Mr.onkoba you are behind news Uhuru was favored by the supure court in 2013.Raila worn,he rigid the election big-time same as he has done 2017.Uhuru is a drag addict he can't win the Kenyan general election without rigging by the mount Kenya Mafia cartel of his tribe kikuyu.He stole election in 2013 and the recent one 2017.Dont you see he has rushed to change the laws in parliament in his favor.Please follow the Kenya politics inside and out if you are an African.Don't be innocent like the so called international observers who don't know anything to do with inside Kenyan politics. All they observe is people cueing inthelong lines and fake results streaming from nowhere on a large screen for them to give aclean bill of health.
Edgar Lungu has seen those deals in the stores that say 'Buy one get one free or buy 1 get 1 for $1' He is asking for his 'free or $1' deal
@kenya, your comment is so funny.
Stop using Kenya as a scapegoat to justify your lust for power The supreme court did not plunge Kenya into a constitutional crisis rather the secend sham election did.Furthermore Kenya is not Zambia stick to what you know.