STATE House Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka says President Hakainde Hichilema has no intentions of blocking his predecessor, former president Edgar Lungu from contesting the 2026 general election.
In a statement, Hamasaka disclosed that the insinuations by some opposition leaders that President Hichilema intends to block Lungu from running for elections are not only misguided but contemptuous to the Courts of Law.
He said the Head of State has no powers to determine who should be his opponent in any election as the eligibility of candidates is a matter of the constitution.
Hamasaka stated that President Hichilema has high regard for the independence of the Judiciary and will not do or say anything that undermines it.
He added that the President is committed to respecting and upholding all the democratic tenets such as the Rule of Law, Constitutionalism and Human Rights.
“It is in the public domain, that question of whether or not Mr. Lungu is eligible to contest elections is currently before the Constitutional Court, and not at State House.”
“It is therefore extremely contemptuous for the opposition members and leaders to continue commenting on a matter that is before the courts of law and cast aspersions on the independence of the Judiciary,” noted Hamasaka.
By Catherine Pule
Kalemba, November 15, 2024
