THE judiciary is supposed to serve as the conscience of the nation because it upholds justice, protects constitutional values, and ensures the rule of law. It serves as a guardian of fundamental rights, checking the power of the legislature and executive, and providing an impartial mechanism for resolving disputes. Recent events have assailed this perception of the Zambian judiciary. One of the most glaring assaults has been the manner in which the Judiciary has treated the matter of the opposition Patriotic Front. On 24 October 2023, Miles Sampa convened a retreat at the Mulungushi International Conference, whose legitimacy, constitutionality and indeed procedural propriety were an affront to order and rule of law. The PF did what was expected; within 24 hours it had filed documents in the High Court challenging the legality of Mr Sampa’s convention, considering among other important facts that Sampa had in fact been expelled from the PF, and could not therefore […]
PF coup detat
