Ministers should exit office after May 11- LAZ

The Law Association of Zambia says Ministers will cease to hold their positions once Parliament is dissolved.

Linda Kasonde

LAZ President Linda Kasonde in a statement issued to QFM News says on reading Article 116(1) together with Article 72(1) of the constitution, LAZ is of the view that once Parliament has been dissolved, a Minister appointed from the members of parliament or a nominated MP no longer qualified to hold the position of Minister.

Ms Kasonde says this because it is a constitutional requirement for a person to hold the position of Minister under Article 116(1) of the constitution that he or she must be a member of parliament.

She states that in LAZ’s opinion, Article 116(1) as read together with Article 72 of the constitution implies that a Minister vacates office when parliament dissolves,whereas Article 116(1) of the constitution refers to a situation where a Minister vacates office within the life of parliament.

Ms Kasonde explains that with regards the status of the vice president, Article 111(2) states that a vice president shall hold office from the date the vice president-elect is sworn into office and ending on the date the next president-elect is sworn into office, stating that LAZ is therefore of the view that the vice-president should continue in office until the next president-elect is sworn into office.