THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) says it has initiated dialogue with the Attorney General in order to discuss the legal framework in place, and enforcement mechanisms being adopted to combat the spread of COVID-19.

And LAZ has urged all members of the public to treat COVID-19 with the seriousness it deserves.

LAZ Honorary Secretary Sokwani Chilembo stated in a statement issued, Saturday, that the association shall issue a comprehensive statement on the matter upon completion of their engagements with key stakeholders to ensure that the Rule of Law was respected as the pandemic was being fought.

He stated that LAZ had followed with keen interest what had been prevailing in relation to the measures put in place by government to fight COVID-19, and the enforcement mechanisms adopted by the Zambia Police Service.

“The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has followed with keen interest what has been prevailing in the country over the past few days in relation to the measures that have been put in place by the Government to fight Covid-19, and the enforcement mechanisms that have been adopted to this effect by the Zambia Police Service. We confirm that as LAZ, this is an issue that falls well within our mandate as prescribed in Section 4 of the Law Association of Zambia Act, Chapter 31 of the Laws of Zambia, to interrogate further, and offer guidance to both the powers that be and the Nation,” stated Chilembo.

“Based on our confirmation, we wish to advise that we have engaged the Attorney General of the Republic of Zambia, in his Constitutional capacity as chief legal advisor to the Government. We have initiated dialogue with the Attorney General in order to discuss the legal framework in place, and enforcement mechanisms being adopted to combat the spread of COVID-19. We shall issue a comprehensive statement on the matter upon completion of our engagements with key stakeholders in this process, to ensure that the Rule of Law is respected, as we fight the pandemic. We also urge all members of the public to treat Covid-19 with the seriousness it deserves.”