By 
The Constitutional Court has unanimously dismissed a petition by Sean Tembo, leader of the Patriots for Economic Progress (PeP), accusing President Hakainde Hichilema of regionalism and tribalism.
Tembo claimed the President made disparaging remarks against his predecessors and certain ethnic groups and alleged biased appointments in key positions against the Northern and Eastern regions.
However, the court found that Tembo failed to provide cogent evidence to support his allegations.
His selective listing of appointments did not prove a violation of Article 259 of the constitution.
The judges noted that the petitioner did not demonstrate any constitutional violations in the appointments and that his comparisons with past governments were of no probative value.
The court dismissed all 10 allegations, finding no merit in the petition.
The judges who dismissed the petition were Arnold Shilimi, Annie Sitali, Palan Mulonda, Mungeni Mulenga, Martin Musaluke, Judy Mulongoti, and Mudford Mwandenga.
In his petition, Tembo cited President Hichilema’s statement, “a clique of thieves has been looting public resources from independence and don’t think another person can run the country better,” as derogatory towards his six predecessors.
He argued the statement had regional connotations and did not promote national unity and cohesion.
Additionally, Tembo contended that appointments at the Permanent Secretary level and in quasi-government institutions such as ZESCO were regionally biased.
He further alleged that the Minister of Health, Sylvia Masebo’s statement on February 26, 2023, that the President could not attend the Nc’wala traditional ceremony due to the risk of contracting cholera, was an insult to traditional leadership.
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