PF Says Judge Mwila Chitabo’s Action Was Illegal

THE Patriotic Front (PF) has described as legally incorrect an action by High Court judge Mwila Chitabo to stay President Lungu’s decision to suspend Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito.
On Tuesday, President Lungu suspended Mr Nchito and appointed a tribunal comprising three former chief justices to probe his alleged professional misconduct.
Mr Nchito, however, applied for judicial review of President Lungu’s decision in the High Court on Wednesday and Mr Justice Chitabo granted him the request, which also acted a stay of the tribunal.
But PF secretary-general Davies Chama said in a statement issued yesterday that Mr Justice Chitabo’s action is not only illegal, but also disrespectful ,which should not go unchecked.
“It is sad to note that the judge decided to directly disrespect the Constitution by openly showing contempt for President Lungu,” Mr Chama said.
Mr Chama has called for an immediate probe by the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC) to establish the premise Mr Justice Chitabo used to suspend decisions made by President Lungu.
Mr Chama is further calling on the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to investigate the alleged misconduct of both Mr Nchito and Mr Justice Chitabo who are lawyers regulated by the organisation to bring “closure onto this matter”.
He said the JCA and LAZ should immediately investigate why all matters involving Mr Nchito are allegedly allocated to Mr Justice Chitabo.
Mr Chama wondered why Lusaka High Court judge-in-charge Isaac Chali allegedly always allocates cases involving Mr Nchito to Judge Chitabo.