Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has now sacked three senior judges He was previously suspended Alleged judicial misconduct has led to further accusations of political interference in the administration of justice.
In 2016, three Constitutional Court judges presided over a presidential petition that dismissed Hichilema’s challenge to former President Edgar Lungu’s electoral victory.
They were also involved in a controversial ruling allowing Lungu to run in the 2021 elections despite having twice served as Zambia’s president.
They were sacked after their bid to have a court review of a judicial panel’s decision recommending suspension failed.
On Sunday evening, Malacañang issued a statement saying they had been “removed with immediate effect” on the recommendation of the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).
“The removal of judges is an exercise of the President’s powers under the Constitution. [the Zambian constitution],” it said.
Three judges – Justice Anne Sitali, Justice Mugni Mulenga and Justice Palan Mulunda – have yet to comment publicly on the matter.
The JCC investigated allegations of serious misconduct following a complaint from private citizen Moses Kalonde.
Last year, the JCC dismissed a complaint from lawyer Joseph Busenga, who had sought the removal of three judges over allegations they mishandled a 2016 election petition.
Reaction to the judge’s dismissal was mixed.
Political tensions are rising in Zambia ahead of elections in 2026, when Hichilema and Lungu are expected to face off for a fourth time.
Social and political commentator Laura Mitty said informed Zambians were divided between those who believed it was a legitimate but selfish move by the president and those who supported him.
“My view is that the judges acted extremely inappropriately in the 2016 presidential petition. The fact that this was indeed retaliation by the president for their judgment is very concerning,” she told the BBC.
But Lungu’s lawyer, Mark BiZulu, called the move “illegal”, telling the BBC it was “an overstep of the executive’s authority and aimed at interfering with the independence of the judiciary”.
“No judge should be disciplined for performing judicial functions,” he said.
Under the Zambian Constitution, all judges, including the Chief Justice, are appointed by the President on the recommendation of the Judicial Service Commission and with the approval of the National Assembly.
Scholar Sishua Sishua said, “The reality is that as long as the appointment process is dominated by the executive branch, we will always have problems with incompetent and unqualified judges.
“It doesn’t matter who is in power” He posted on XIt added that a “structured and broad approach” is more beneficial than “targeted and individual changes”.
