Parliament ratifies appointment of eight judges

Parliament has ratified the appointments of eight judges by President Edgar Lungu among them one Constitutional Court Judge.

Those whose appointments have been ratified are Justice Martin Musaluke as Constitutional Court Judge, Justices Florence Lengalenga, Petronella Ngulube, Mwiinde Siavwapa and Betty Mung’omba to serve as Court of Appeal Judges.

Others are Kelvin Limbani, Conceptor Zulu and Catherine Phiri to serve as High Court Judges.

Justice Minister Given Lubinda

Contributing to debate on the motion for the house to adopt the report of the parliamentary select committee appointed to scrutinize the presidential appointments, Justice Minister Given Lubinda said the nominees were recommended for appointment by the judicial service commission.

Mr Lubinda says any attempt therefore to use the appointments to hit at the office of the President is misinformed.

He further appealed to Members of Parliament to give due regard to the judiciary.

UPND Parliamentary Chief Whip Garry Nkombo

Earlier in his debate, Mazabuka Central Member of Parliament Garry Nkombo called on the Executive to respect the rule of law by demonstrating support to the judiciary.

He says there should be no negotiation on the directive by the Constitutional Court for Ministers who remained in office illegally to pay back what they recieved.

Mr Nkombo says it’s incumbent upon President Lungu to help enforce the Constitutional Court judgment for the former Ministers to pay back what they received.