LAZ joins Sangwa in pursuing removal of chief justice

The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has been allowed to join the matter in which a Lusaka lawyer is asking the High Court to order Chief Justice, Ernest Sakala and Supreme Court judge Peter Chitengi to vacate their offices.

Lusaka High Judge Munalula Lisimba granted an order to LAZ after the association applied to join the proceedings as friends of the court because the matter involved issues that were related to the object of the association.

This is in a case in which former Access Financial Services directors, Aaron Chungu and Faustin Kabwe through their lawyer, John Sangwa petitioned the High Court to remove the duo from performing Supreme Court duties due to alleged over-age.

According to an affividat in support of ex-parte summons for an order to attend proceedings in the High Court as friends of the court, LAZ secretary Margaret Chalwe states that the association believed that the matters before Mr Justice Lisimba would invariably affect the general membership of LAZ.

“The council meeting of LAZ held at the secretariat on August 5 this year, resolved that the association participate in proceedings by modus operandi of amicus curiae ‘friend of the court’,” Ms Chalwe stated.

She states it was in this regard that LAZ had appointed Eric Silwamba and Company to act for the association on their behalf.

Ms Chalwe states further that the LAZ believed parties in the case would not be prejudiced in any way if the association was represented in the proceedings by friends.

She states that the court would conversely benefit of hearing independent counsel who would help the court by expounding the law impartially and the interest of justice would be served.