By 
Former Ambassador to Ethiopia, Emmanuel Mwamba, has accused the Zambian Judiciary of being complicit in enabling dictatorship by denying citizens their fundamental rights.
In a statement issued on Thursday, Mwamba claimed that the Judiciary was failing to uphold democracy and the rule of law, citing instances where citizens were allegedly denied bail and due process.
“The Judiciary is supposed to be a guardian of democracy, a promoter of justice, and a defender of the Republican Constitution. Instead, it has succumbed to the decay that has plagued the Executive and Legislature for the past 60 years,” Mwamba said.
Mwamba, who serves as the Patriotic Front (PF) Chairperson for Information, further alleged that the Economic and Financial Crimes Court was established to selectively target former ruling party members while shielding government officials from prosecution.
“None of their corrupt officials appear before this court. We have witnessed this decay year after year, government after government, and now the Judiciary has reached rock bottom,” he stated.
He called for judicial reforms, emphasizing the need for a new generation of leaders to restore public confidence in Zambia’s democratic institutions.
Mwamba also criticized the reliance on international interventions for justice, referencing the visit by United Nations Human Rights Council Special Rapporteur, Irene Khan.
“This was supposed to be a moment of celebration for those who feel oppressed and whose rights have been violated. Yet, Zambians now look to outsiders for justice instead of relying on their own institutions,” he said.
Mwamba urged citizens to strengthen Zambia’s democratic systems and ensure the Judiciary remains independent to prevent a slide into dictatorship.
WARNING! All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express permission from ZAMBIA MONITOR.
Comments