Metro

Zambian Green Party leader petitions President Hichilema over suspension of judges

Published

1 week ago

September 29, 2024

The leader of the Green Party of Zambia, Peter Sinkamba, has filed a petition in the Constitutional Court challenging President Hakainde Hichilema’s suspension of three judges based on a recommendation by the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).

Sinkamba, who is challenging the legality of the decision to sack the judges, argues that the JCC’s decision to review its 2016 ruling which cleared the judges of gross misconduct, contravenes Article 5(2) of the Constitution and is therefore illegal and void.

In the petition, the GP president said the original 2016 case involved the JCC’s review of complaints about the judges’ conduct during a presidential petition case.

He added that a majority ruling by Constitutional Court judges including Justice Mugeni Mulenga, Sitali, and Mulonda, had dismissed the petition for exceeding the 14-day constitutional timeframe.

Following the petition, Sinkamba and other citizens continued to raise concerns about the judges’ competence, prompting complaints to the JCC in 2016.

After a year of deliberation, the JCC ruled in 2017 that while there were inconsistencies in the judges’ handling of the case, they did not amount to gross misconduct or incompetence, which Sinkamba now contends that the JCC’s latest recommendation to suspend the three judges, based on the same facts, is a re-examination of a settled matter.

Sinkamba is now seeking a declaration that the JCC’s recommendation for the judges’ suspension was unlawful and requests an interim order to stay the suspension until the case is concluded.

He also argues that the JCC lacked the legal authority to review its own decision under Article 5(2) of the Constitution due to the differing treatment of the three suspended judges compared to the two dissenting judges is discriminatory, violating Articles 8(d) and (e) of the 2016 Constitution, Article 23(2) of the 1996 Constitution, and the Judicial Code of Conduct Act.

Click to comment

Metro

All the choices we have made are for sustainable, inclusive growth— Tinubu

Published

2 hours ago

October 9, 2024

Isaac Dachen

Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has reiterated that all the choices his administration has made since assuming office 17 months ago have been made to stop the country’s decline and put it on a path to sustainable and inclusive growth.

Tinubu, who made the assertion at the 54th Annual Accountants Conference in Abuja on Tuesday, said it was encouraging that Nigeria’s Gross Domestic Product growth for the first and second quarters of 2024 was positive, giving credence to his reforms and policies.

The president, who was represented by Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Alhaji Abubakar Bagudu, noted that it was gladdening that inflation was on a downward trend, and the foreign exchange market was stabilising, with encouraging investment signals.

“We are continuing with innovative reform measures: digitisation of revenue collection and government services, consumer credit system to boost manufacturing and enable access to goods and services,” Tinubu said in his address to the audience.

“Our reforms include removing punitive subsidies to the economy. Revenue bleeding has reduced, and the three tiers of government are receiving higher allocations, which enable more support to vulnerable populations.

“Social investment spending is increasing, the minimum wage has increased, student loans are available, and interventions to support NANO, MSME, farming, fishing, and the livestock sector have increased.

“Our collective vision for Nigeria’s future is anchored on strengthening our institutions and nurturing a pervasive culture of accountability,” he said.

He added that his government was committed to leveraging cutting-edge technologies to boost transparency and efficiency and cultivate strategic partnerships to pave the way for sustainable development.

Metro

10 Zambian miners confirmed dead, 20 feared trapped in Mumbwa mine tragedy

Published

19 hours ago

October 8, 2024

Isaac Dachen

At least 10 Zambian miners have been confirmed dead, with 20 others feared missing after the collapse of the Lwiili Mine located in the Mumbwa region.

The devastating accident, which was confirmed by the Member of Parliament representing Nangoma, Collins Nzovu, and the Zambia Police, was said to have occured on Monday.

Search efforts are ongoing to locate the missing miners.

“I regret to confirm a tragic mining accident at Lwiili Mine in Nangoma, where 20 lives are feared lost. As of now, nine bodies have been retrieved, with 10 confirmed dead,” Nzovu stated in a video posted on his official Facebook account.

He also stated that President Hakainde Hichilema and Vice President Mutale Nalumango had been informed of the incident and urged residents and the bereaved to remain calm.

The Central Province Police Chief, Charity Chanda, who also confirmed the incident in a statement, said five miners were also injured.

“An unknown number of people were conducting mining activities when the earth collapsed on them,” Chanda said.

He added that rescue teams recovered six injured miners, but one later died at Nangoma Mission Hospital.

The police chief also said bodies of the deceased have been taken to Mumbwa General Hospital Mortuary, while the injured are receiving treatment at Nangoma Mission Hospital.