By CHILA NAMAIKO –

PRESIDENT Edgar Lungu has vowed to protect the integrity of the Judiciary because of the confidence he has in the manner it is discharging its mandated responsibilities. The Head of State has, however, warned that he will not take lightly those trying to scandalise the judicial system in Zambia. Mr Lungu has since urged lawyers and judges to firmly preserve the integrity of the country’s Judiciary instead of some members criticising it. The President was speaking at State House in Lusaka yesterday when he swore in five Supreme Court judges namely, Justice Charles Kajimanga, Justice Michael Musonda, Justice Jane Kabuka, Justice Nigel Mutuna and Justice Jones Chinyama. “I can only say congratulations to all of you, but let me take advantage of this opportunity to reaffirm my confidence and pride in the Zambian Judiciary, which can’t speak for itself for obvious reasons. “You are doing a very good job which I highly commend, but some people out there think you are not doing enough. “Only yesterday (Monday) I learnt of a court case in the United Kingdom (UK) where some Zambians have sued a mining company on the Copperbelt at the instigation of Zambian lawyers, some of them State Counsels and one of them having been a former Attorney General. They are saying they have no confidence in the Zambian judicial system,” the President said. He wondered where the integrity of the Zambian legal fraternity was if lawyers could not protect the courts of law of the country. “It’s truly a thankless job because no one will speak good particularly if you rule against them, but there are people out there, a lot of them, including myself, who have confidence in the Judiciary. “The men and women who are on the bench in Zambia have done a commendable job. We look to you when we have difficulties as family members, when we are sharing estates of our departed, we look to you when we have difficulties in our matrimony, we look to you when we have differences as politicians,” he said. The Head of State encouraged the new Supreme Court judges to remain firm and execute their duties diligently. He said he would engage the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) in a matter where Musa Mwenye and his client Dominic Lungowe had instigated a lawsuit against Konkola Copper Mines (KCM) on the Copperbelt in a London High Court. He said it was unfortunate that Mr Mwenye, a senior member of the Zambian Bar, could go to a foreign country and cast suspicion on the integrity of the Zambian judicial system. “So I will pick up issues with LAZ to find out why a member of the Bar, at one time leader of the Bar, can go out there and cast suspicion on the integrity of our court system and continue to appear before you,” Mr Lungu said. Some residents of Chingola on the Copperbelt have taken mining giant Vedanta and its subsidiary KCM to court in the UK over alleged toxic substances leaks. President Lungu called on lawyers and judges to have patriotism in the court system and find better avenues of attacking each other if justified. Shortly after the swearing-in of the judges, Special Assistant to the President for Press and Public Relations Amos Chanda said the Head of State was in consultation with the State House legal team and Chief Justice Ireen Mambilima over the matter of Mr Mwenye who has called into question the integrity of the Judiciary in Zambia. Vice-President Inonge Wina, Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska and Lusaka Province Minister Mulenga Sata were among senior Government officials who witnessed the swearing-in ceremony.