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Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema has dismissed three top judges, previously suspended for alleged judicial misconduct, sparking accusations of political interference in the judiciary.
The three Constitutional Court judges—Justice Annie Sitali, Justice Mungeni Mulenga, and Justice Palan Mulonda—presided over a 2016 presidential petition in which they dismissed Hichilema’s challenge against former President Edgar Lungu’s election victory. They were also involved in a contentious ruling allowing Lungu to run in the 2021 elections, despite having already served two terms.
The dismissal follows the judges’ unsuccessful court application for a review of a judicial panel’s recommendation to suspend them. A statement from the presidency announced their removal “with immediate effect,” based on the Judicial Complaints Commission’s (JCC) findings of gross misconduct.
The three judges have not publicly responded to their dismissal. Their removal has stirred debate, with political tensions rising ahead of Zambia’s 2026 elections, where Hichilema and Lungu are expected to face off again.
Social and political commentator Laura Miti believes Zambians are divided over the move. Some see it as legally justified but politically motivated, while others support it. “My view is that the judges misbehaved spectacularly in the 2016 petition, but this comes across as revenge, which is highly concerning,” Miti said.
Meanwhile, Makebi Zulu, Lungu’s lawyer, criticized the decision as an “illegality,” claiming it undermines the judiciary’s independence. “No judge should be disciplined for carrying out their judicial function,” Zulu said.
Political analyst Sishuwa Sishuwa highlighted the need for systemic reform, saying that as long as the executive leads judicial appointments, issues with incompetence and bias will persist, regardless of who is in power.
