Doctors Reject PF Plans To Kill LAZ

THE Zambia Medical Association has rejected plans by the Patriotic Front to abolish the Law Association of Zambia.

And ZMA president Dr Aaron Mujajati says professional bodies will face a similar fate that LAZ is in for standing up to oppose the wrongs of the powerful ruling class.
Dr Mujajati stated yesterday that what LAZ was facing affected all professional bodies. On Wednesday, former Secretary to the Cabinet Dr Sketchly Sacika said
professional bodies in the country must immediately stand up and defend LAZ because they would be the next victims of the PF’s mission
to exterminate all divergent voices. Kasama PF member of parliament Kelvin Sampa has put up notice to move a private member’s motion in which he is proposing the abolishment of LAZ.

Last year, lawyer Robson Malipenga, a PF stalwart, made an application before court to seek the formation of another body of lawyers after accusing LAZ of not fully representing interest of lawyers in the country. And a few weeks ago, PF cadres protested at the LAZ secretariat in Lusaka demanding that president Linda Kasonde steps down and forms a political party. The cadres, while carrying offensive weapons such as pangas, hammers and machetes, accused Kasonde of bias and being anti-PF. Since last year, the PF has engaged in incessant attacks on LAZ for defending the rule of law and disagreeing with a number of their
abuses and excesses.
Dr Mujajati stated that the country should draw a line on the LAZ matter and refuse, in the strongest terms possible, any move or hint to dissolve it.

“LAZ is on the brink of extinction and we might all end the same way if our positions on matters of national interest are at variance with those that have access to power. While we insist on professional bodies remaining professional and not to compromise their professionalism, we also do not agree with the perceived silencing of this vital voice from the professionals,” Dr Mujajat stated in an emailed response to a press query. “Today it is LAZ; the next institution to suffer the same or similar fate could be any one of us because differences of opinion from time to time are inevitable. How can we be assured that if we do not agree with authorities on how to proceed on matters of public interest, we would also not suffer the same fate? That is precisely why we cannot be silent on this matter because it affects all of us in one way or the other. We are therefore calling on all well-meaning Zambians and our lawmakers to reject this bill.”
He stated that the proposed private member’s bill seeking to dissolve LAZ was worrisome.
“While we are not in a position to critique the operations of LAZ, we are deeply concerned with the implications of the proposed bill if it goes on to be enacted,” Dr Mujajati stated. “Professional institutions like LAZ and indeed ourselves serve not only the interests of the profession, but the interests of the public as well. Professional bodies therefore form an integral part of any democracy; ours included. By going ahead to annihilate LAZ, we run the risk of ‘throwing away the bath water with the baby’ as it were. This is a decision that Zambians should never allow to be made in our time.”
He stated that LAZ must not be allowed to suffer this fate and that it must continue to exist.
“We are aware that there is a clear difference of opinion across the citizenry as regards the manner in which LAZ has conducted its business. We are also alive to the fact that there are sections of society that have taken offence with the manner LAZ has conducted its business. As justified as they may feel they are, we do not think that dissolving such an important institution is the best solution,” stated Dr Mujajati. “We believe that as a country, we need to consider other options.

We cannot afford to act in anger and throw away this vital institution, lest we live to regret it. We cannot afford to be on the wrong side of history; to be that generation that tore apart some of the cords that held us together. If this bill is allowed to succeed, we will be setting a bad precedence that will continue to
haunt this country. Posterity will judge us harshly. Imagine a society where there are no checks and balances? Where we all agree and do not have differences of opinion? We believe that checks and balances must be applied to professional bodies in the same manner as governments but obliteration of professional bodies is not the best way to proceed. Mistakes may have been made, but this bill will be an even bigger mistake if allowed to succeed.”