The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has called for the quick swearing in of the newly ratified Attorney General and Solicitor General.
LAZ President George Chisanga said that the delay unhealthy in the light of the Solicitor General also not yet sworn a week after being ratified by parliament.
President Michael Sata who has not been seen in public for 27 days now has yet to swear in Attorney General Musa Mwenye and Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa as his real health status remains shrouded in mystery.
State House fears a swearing in ceremony would open up the Head of State to public scrutiny after having caged away from the public for over a month.
President Sata, who previously has basked in swearing in ceremonies taking on officials and dressing down his opponents, has suddenly stayed away from what has been the closest to a press conference the nation has come in his three years in office.
“The expectation under the law is that when somebody has been ratified by parliament as soon as possible, they must be allowed to fill the vacancy substantively,” Chisanga said.
“They would not be any direct legal effect of not having one but you will have a government that is not functioning without one important office bearer.”
Chisanga said, “Cabinet meetings for instance are supposed to be attended by the Attorney General or if he is not around, the solicitor general. It is only fair that there should be a quick swearing of the Attorney General and even the Solicitor General himself.”
The LAZ president also said it was important to clear the air on the illness and whereabouts of the President.
“I don’t think that there is any legal justification I can give for the absence of the President in the constitution, but the general expectation is that the person who is holding the highest office in the country must be visible,” he said.
“If he is not then convincing reasons must be given to the public, this is a public servant number one people would like to know what is happening in the highest office in the country and if you leave it to speculation people will raise all manner of speculation on what is happening to him.”
Chisanga added: “It is in the hands of government to keep it open and say exactly where the President is. If he is resting they should say it, if he is unwell they should say it. Like they have said the President is just as human as all of us are if you are unwell there are explanations that are given.”
President Sata has been locked away from the public for almost a month with an ghostly silence emanating from State House over his real state of health.
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