Con Court To Rule On Ex-Minister Debts

The Constitutional Court is set to hear the matter in which ex-ministers must pay back money for remaining in office after the dissolution of Parliament ahead of the 2016 elections. The hearing is expected on January 28, according to the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), when the Court is expected to determine how much the former office holder owe following a previous ruling that they have to return their salary for the period in question.

Speaking on the development LAZ President Eddie Mwitwa is quoted as stating, “The matter is coming up for the application that the Attorney General has made for the courts to access the amounts that the ministers must pay back. The progress that has been made in what happens with that application will determine the direction that we have to take or the steps that we have to take moving forward. It is coming up on the 28th of January 2020 before the Registrar of the Constitution Court. That is the date when the matter is coming up for that application to determine how much they owe. It could be that on that day the matter is adjourned for the Registrar to consider the submissions that both parties will make so it is a hearing, it is not the judgement day. The matter has delayed in court but at least we do have this date now.”

President Lungu has previously questioned the ruling requiring ministers to repay the funds. However, Justice Minister Given Lubinda has said that the Government is committed to ensuring the judgement of the Court is implemented once the Registrar has established how much should be paid. Lubinda has further stated that the ministry will execute the order to recover the money, but declined to comment on how long the process could take.