PRESIDENT Hakainde Hichilema has cautioned the newly appointed state counsels to live a teaching and preaching life, as their lifestyles should serve as examples to youths in society and those in the legal profession.
The swearing in ceremony took place yesterday at State house, where five state counsels were sworn in, with an addition of three more appointments.
Addressing the appointees, President Hichilema guided them to direct their works into maintaining orderliness in the country, which should begin with their ways of living, ensuring that just Justice prevails at all times.
He noted that the responsibility of the state counsel is one that they should carry responsibly and diligently.
The Head of State said they should assist the country to maintain orderliness and dispense justice timely, fairly, and with compassion as state counsels while automatically becoming teachers and role models to their young colleagues in the legal profession including the bench, young Magistrates and judges.
“The system has the trust and belief in you because for you to be sworn in today, you had to go through a lengthy process of vetting and approval. I don’t sit in those processes but for the fact that the process has now brought the name before the president, that you can be (and be) sworn in means that you fulfilled the legal process requirements.”
“Therefore. I think it is important to say that this is not a time to relax (or to) say I am now state counsel, I have arrived. Work has just started, but that also goes to the personal conduct,” President Hichilema said.
The President further noted that being called a state counsel is an ambition of every lawyer when they study law which is the reason they work their best once admitted to the bar.
“So you have basically reached a level which every lawyer aspires to reach, other things are basically what you have done in the legal profession or around legal issues.”
“So today is a pivotal time for us as a nation where Justice is the rule of law first,” said the President.
President Hichilema further issued an important directive to the state counsels to ensure that the chaos witnessed in the nation a few years ago is not repeated.
He emphasized that this is the main objective behind the additional responsibilities bestowed upon them, in addition to their ordinary roles in government.
“As state counsel members, we do not expect you to stagger out of a bar into your car, and I am serious about this,” President Hichilema said while addressing the issue of drunkenness and excessive alcohol abuse.
“When young people witness individuals who have reached a certain level (in life ) staggering out of a bar, unable to operate their car, they receive the wrong message.”
“The keys fumbling from one position to another paint a negative picture for the community. We may need to educate you on basic principles of living, but that expectation remains. I have provided a simple example, but there are more complex ones. Essentially, you are not just representing the legal profession, but society at large. This entails a great deal of responsibility, as everyone is watching,” emphasized President Hichilema.
Addressing the recent appointments, President Hichilema named Minister of Home Affairs and Internal Security, Jack Mwiimbu; Speaker of the National Assembly, Nelly Mutti; Ashad Abdullah Dudhia; Mwangala Ifunga; and Kondwa Emily Sakala Chibiya among the newly appointed State Counsels.
Furthermore, the President appointed Ambassador Lazarus Kapambwe as Special Envoy to the President at State House, Dr. Choolwe Beyani as Chairperson of the Civil Service Commission, and Beatrice Kiluya Mpanga as Deputy Director-General of the Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC).
Additionally, Fr. Joe Komakoma was appointed as Commissioner of the Human Rights Commission..
By Buumba Mwitumwa
Kalemba March 14, 2023
