By PASSY HAACHIZO –
THE Non-Governmental Organisation Coordinating Council (NGOCC) has called on the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to interpret the laws in the Constitution properly for the sake of public interest.
NGOCC Eastern and Central provinces coordinator Pascal Kambafwile said in an interview that there was need for the Government and LAZ to speak with one voice to have an informed public on certain articles in the new Constitution.
Mr Kambafwile said despite the fact that LAZ emanated from an Act of Parliament, it had a fundamental call to represent both the Government and members of the public.
This calls for interpretation of articles such as the one which allows ministers to stay in office after dissolution of Parliament instead of taking Government to court and lose the case afterwards.
Mr Kambafwile said LAZ was one of the largest institutions because it had representation from both the private and the public sectors.
He said LAZ should work with everyone at all times and ensure that democracy was also promoted at every level in the  country.
“We need to have a LAZ that will be explaining our legal system and structures. I say this because they are found everywhere, when you go to the ministries and the private sector, they are always there.
“In the Constitution there are some articles that people are arguing about but then, we have LAZ to interpret that,” he said.
Mr Kambafwile said the country also expected LAZ to offer solutions and direction to protect a common person regardless of their status in society.
“There are instances when we feel LAZ does not explain the law the way it should do. What is important is that those with knowledge on legal matters have to offer protection to those who do not know anything,” he said.
He said LAZ also ought to understand that those in Government possess political power and those in the private sector had economic power, and that both were essential for a country to grow.