NGOCC condemns PF attacks on LAZ
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NGOCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ENGWASE MWALE
Linda Kasonde
Engwese Mwale
PRESS RELEASE for Immediate Release Saturday 4th March 2017
The Non-Governmental Organisations’ Coordinating Council ( NGOCC ) condemns, in
the strongest terms, the barbaric and misguided attacks on the Law Association of Zambia
( LAZ) by cadres of the Patriotic Front Party (PF).
While we recognize that every citizen has a democratic right to express their views on
any public institution, the attacks towards the LAZ and in particular towards the LAZ
President Ms Linda Kasonde are unwarranted and clearly meant to intimidate the
Association from playing it’s rightful role as a legal advisory. As the custodian of the law,
LAZ has every right to defend the mutilation of our Constitution by those who yield
political power.
The levels of lawlessness by the ruling party are appalling and very retrogressive to
democratic dispensation. It is totally unacceptable for cadres of the ruling party to
conduct themselves in such a barbaric manner. It must be appreciated that LAZ is an
autonomous body with clearly articulated governance structures through which measures
can be taken should it be established that LAZ had misconducted itself.
The actions by the cadres are meant to intimidate LAZ especially it’s President from discharging her
duties as a duly elected leader of the association.
We are especially concerned that if this trend of intimidation of institutions such as LAZ
continue, the voices of citizens, especially women, as well as their vested interest will be
suppressed even more.
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Left to right: NGOCC Operations and Administration Manager, Florence Lufunsa, Executive Director, Engwase Mwale, Board Chairperson, Mary Mulenga and Programs Manager Chilufya Chokwe Siwale in Lusaka on Tuesday 31st December 2019 – Picture by Derrick Sinjela
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We demand that Ms. Kasonde be allowed to discharge her duties free of intimidation andpersonal attacks. As the women’s movement we stand with Ms. Kasonde and support herin her endeavors as LAZ president.We further appeal to the leadership of the PF to immediately stop this hooliganism by itscadres. The ramifications of this trend is obviously stifled freedom of expression and ofthe press and is an unfortunate recipe for killing our democracy.The women’s movement is therefore calling upon all Zambians to stand up and reject thisperpetuation of undemocratic tendencies of the PF.
NGOCC EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR ENGWASE MWALE
Issued for/ NGOCC
Engwase B. MwaleEXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
