THE LAW Association of Zambia (LAZ) says ministers affected by the judgment of the Constitutional Court do not have an option in the matter but to abide by it within the stipulated time.

In a statement, Wednesday, LAZ president Abyudi Shonga vowed that the Association would take every legal step possible to ensure that the judgment of the court was complied with.

“LAZ has welcomed the ruling on assessment by the Registrar of the Constitutional Court handed down on 7th December 2020 in relation to the case involving ministers who illegally stayed in office in 2016. Through the said ruling, state coffers will be boosted by a sum of K4.2 million within the next 30 days. However, LAZ is deeply concerned with remarks circulating in the media attributed to the Minister of Lands and Natural resources honorable Jean Kapata in which the honorable minister is quoted as saying she will not pay back the money as adjudged by the court. Our concern stems from the fact that decisions emanating from the courts of law should not under any circumstances be ignored or belittled,” read the statement.

“We do not expect citizens let alone sitting Cabinet ministers to undermine the Judiciary or decisions handed down by courts of law. AS LAZ, we wish to remind all the ministers affected by the judgment of the Constitutional Court that they do not have an option in the matter but to abide by the decision of the court and pay back monies ordered to be paid within 30 days from the date of assessment. LAZ warns all those ordered to pay back the duly assessed sums of money that LAZ will take every legal step possible to ensure that the judgment of the court is complied with. These steps will include citing those who undermine the court decision for contempt of court and taking out appropriate writs of execution.”

Shonga said LAZ would deploy all available options to ensure that every person, regardless of their standing in society, did not demean or undermine the sanctity of decisions of the courts

“LAZ is mandated by statute to promote the rule of law which is the bedrock of our governance system. In pursuance of the statutory mandate, LAZ will deploy all available options to ensure that every person regardless of their standing in society does not demean or undermine the sanctity of decisions of our courts. It must be stressed that everyone is duty bound to respect the decision of our courts of law. We therefore call upon all ministers (as they then then were) affected by the Constitutional Court’s decision to promptly comply to avoid the adverse consequences of the court’s coercive powers,” stated Shonga.