Sunday November 2, 2014 HARRINGTON TAKES ON SCOTT THE action by Acting President Guy Scott to assume the office of the President is illegal and the matter should be taken to the courts of law for interpretation, says former Tourism Minister William Harrington. And Mr. Harrington has challenged the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) to take keen interest in the unfolding events after the death of President Sata on who should take over the Presidency when there was an Acting President appointed by a sitting President. In an interview, Mr. Harrington said he was ready to take on Dr. Scott in the courts of law for illegally occupying the office of the President. He said he would next week after the burial of President Sata drag Dr. Scott to the Courts of Law over Cabinet’s decision to allow him assume the office of Head of State. Mr. Harrington said it was now time Zambians stood up and sought authoritative interpretation of the law from the courts of law on the current constitution lapse regarding the appointment of Dr. Scott as acting president. He said the courts had a duty to the people of Zambia to interpret the law on the handing over of instruments of power from the then Acting President Edgar Lungu to Dr. Scott. “I am just waiting for the President to be put to rest and after that we must seek the courts of law to interpret the law on the matter. This must be done before the Presidential by-elections. I am saying that there is need for all of us concerned citizens to seek authoritative interpretation from the courts of law on the current Constitution regarding the appointment of the Acting President following the death of President Sata. “The court should explain to us the handing over of power to Dr. Scott when President Sata had already appointed Edgar Lungu as acting President. They must tell us whether the handing of power to Dr. Scott is null and void,” said Mr. Harrington. He charged that the matter should be settled by the High Court because the country did not have a Constitutional Court, adding that Constitutional Lawyers and Judges should be engaged to help interpret the law. Mr. Harrington said editorial comments and opinions in some newspapers were confusing the people of Zambia, saying getting a Court settlement was the only way forward for the promotion of a sustainable democracy and respect for the rule of law. He also said the death of President Sata should instigate the establishment of the Constitutional Court. “As a person who was part of the Mung’omba Commission, I might not be privy to the recommendations of the Technical Committee Drafting the Constitution on the matter, however, the current situation makes it imperative and in fact it is a matter of urgency that we establish a Constitutional Court because it will ably deal with the matter in the interest of sustainable democracy and the rule of law,” said Mr. Harrington. And Mr. Harrington has challenged LAZ to take up the matter as legal cost were unaffordable to most Zambians with interest in the matter. He said LAZ should mobilise itself and represent the interest of Zambians over Dr. Scott’s taking over the Presidency as Acting President.
Posted on: Sun, 02 Nov 2014 11:31:34 +0000
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