Following a pastoral letter from the Council of Churches of Zambia (CCZ) General Secretary Susan Matale who warned the PF government against interfering in the judicial process, Chief Government spokesperson Kennedy Sakeni has accused the Church body of politicizing the matter.
Sakeni, who is also Information and Broadcasting Services Minister, said the Executive has no hand in decisions of the Judiciary in the dispensation of justice.
In her pastoral letter, Matale described as suspicious the acquittal of former human resources officer at the Ministry of Health, Henry Kapoko who is President Michaerl Sata’s nephew. The letter also voiced criticism of the government’s anti-corruption policies with regard to the power struggle between Minister of Defence Geoffrey Bwayla Mwamba and Minister of Justice Wynter Kabimba.
Sakeni said the Government was committed to the rule of law and independence of the judiciary as one of the major pillars of a thriving democracy.
“In keeping with the principle of separation of powers among the three arms of the State, Government has no hand in the decisions of the Judiciary in the dispensation of justice,” he said.
Kapoko and eight others was last week acquitted of theft and money laundering charges involving K1.9 billion.