PF Ministers now seek review on ConCourt paying back verdict

Stephen Kapyongo

The Patriotic Front Ministers who were declared to be in office illegally by the Constitutional Court are now seeking for the court to review the decision.

In the run upto the just ended general election  the Constitutional Court ruled that Cabinet Ministers, their deputies and provincial ministers were holding office illegally and ordered that they immediately vacate.The Court also ordered the ministers to pay back the salaries, allowances and other emoluments they have drawn from the treasury since May 12, 2016 when Parliament was dissolved.

Constitutional Court president Hildah Chibomba, who sat with Enock Mulembe and Mulela Munalula said the ministers’ continued stay in office was contrary to the spirit of the Constitution.

This was after the matter was taken to the Constitutional Court by the Law Association of Zambia after President Lungu insisted that the Ministers continue in office despite Parliament being dissolved.

Now speaking when he featured on Radio Phoenix’s Let the People Talk programme today, September 9, 2016, Stephen Kapyongo who served as Minister of Local Government said the Ministers are challenging the judgment.

Kapyongo said the judgement passed by the Constitutional Court was based on assumptions. He said there was nothing wrong for the Ministers to continue to avoid a vacuum.

The former Minister who is also the Patriotic Front Member of Parliament for Shiwan’gandu and Member of the party’s Central Committee said the Attorney General has been instructed to follow the matter with the Constitutional Court.