Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema is facing criticism from the opposition after his decision to dismiss three judges from the Constitutional Court.
The three judges are Justice Annie Sitali, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, and Justice Palan Mulonda.
The country’s Judicial Complaint Commission (JCC) recommended their dismissal after investigating allegations of misconduct against the judges.
JCC conducted an investigation into the allegations of misconduct against the three judges after receiving a complaint from private citizen Moses Kalonde.
Last year, the Judicial Conduct Committee dismissed a complaint filed by attorney Joseph Busenga, who sought the removal of three judges on the grounds that they improperly handled the 2016 election petition.
The decision to remove them comes after an unsuccessful court attempt to challenge a judicial panel’s suggestion for their suspension.
However, critics argue that this move represents an unwarranted political interference in the judicial system.
The judges in question were involved in a 2016 presidential petition where they rejected Hichilema’s challenge against the election results favoring former President Edgar Lungu.
The court has been deliberating on a petition regarding the eligibility of former President Edgar Lungu to participate in the presidential elections of 2021 and 2026.
In 2021, the court determined that Lungu was indeed eligible to run, despite his defeat to the opposition leader Hichilema.
Now the opposition says the President Hichilema should respect the judge’s decision in good faith and no need to punish the judges.
The judges were dismissed after an unsuccessful court application aimed at reviewing a judicial panel’s recommendation.
A statement from the presidency on Sunday evening confirmed their immediate removal based on a suggestion from the JCC.
