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The Zambian government has called for calm as the Constitutional Court prepares to deliver its judgment on the eligibility of former President Edgar Lungu.
The ruling is scheduled for Tuesday, December 10, 2024.
In a media briefing held at the Ministry on Monday, Information and Media Permanent Secretary, Thabo Kawana, urged citizens to follow the judgment from their homes or workplaces, emphasizing that crowding the court premises was unnecessary.
He pointed out that both public and private media had been allowed to broadcast the judgment live.
“Citizens are also warned against commenting on cases before the courts of law, adding that those found wanting should not ride on tribal or regional lines,” Kawana warned.
Kawana commended the judiciary for allowing the media to broadcast the proceedings of Lungu’s eligibility case, announcing that more cases would be televised in the future.
In a related development, Kawana warned that political involvement does not exempt individuals from facing legal consequences.
He emphasized that those breaking the law, regardless of political affiliation, would be held accountable.
“People claiming a shrinking democratic space in the country are using all media platforms to engage; they wouldn’t be able to do so if there was no freedom of speech,” he said.
Kawana also addressed accusations that the government was targeting individuals with divergent political views, stating that the U.S. government’s human rights report had vindicated the Zambian government, confirming that there were no political prisoners in the country.
He reaffirmed that under President Hakainde Hichilema, the government had made significant strides in safeguarding democratic freedoms, including free expression and unrestricted media access.
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