Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema has dismissed three senior judges he had previously suspended for alleged judicial misconduct, raising further concerns about political interference in the judiciary.
The judges, who were part of the Constitutional Court that dismissed Hichilema’s presidential election challenge against former President Edgar Lungu in 2016, also contributed to a controversial ruling allowing Lungu to run in the 2021 elections despite having already served two terms.
Their removal followed a court decision that rejected their application for a review regarding their suspension, as noted in a statement from the presidency on Sunday.
The statement indicated that their dismissal was effective immediately and made following a recommendation from the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).
“The removal of the judges is in exercise of the powers vested in the President under [the Zambian constitution],” the statement read.
The judges in question—Justice Annie Sitali, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, and Justice Palan Mulonda—have yet to publicly respond to their dismissal.
The JCC had been investigating them for alleged gross misconduct based on a complaint from private citizen Moses Kalonde.
Previously, the JCC had dismissed another complaint from lawyer Joseph Busenga, who accused the judges of mishandling the 2016 election petition.
Reactions to the judges’ dismissal have been mixed amid escalating political tensions in Zambia as the country approaches elections in 2026, where Hichilema and Lungu are anticipated to face off for a fourth time.
Social and political commentator Laura Miti remarked that Zambians are divided on the issue, with some seeing it as a legal but self-serving action by the president while others support him.
“In my view, the judges misbehaved spectacularly in the presidential petition in 2016. While that may be true, this feels like the president is exacting revenge for their judgment, which is highly concerning,” she stated in an interview with the BBC.
Conversely, Makebi Zulu, Lungu’s lawyer in the case, criticized the dismissal as an “illegality,” suggesting it constituted executive overreach aimed at undermining judicial independence.
“No judge should be disciplined for carrying out their judicial function,” he asserted.
According to Zambia’s constitution, all judges, including the chief justice, are appointed by the president based on recommendations from the JCC and with approval from the National Assembly.
Political analyst Sishuwa Sishuwa highlighted that as long as judicial appointments remain under executive control, the issue of incompetent and unqualified judges will persist.
He tweeted, “It does not matter who is in power,” advocating for a “structured and broad-minded approach” rather than “targeted and individual changes.”
Source-BBC
