• PRESIDENT Michael Sata (left) congratulates Attorney General Musa Mwenye after he was sworn in at State House yesterday. (Inset) The President receives an affidavit from new Solicitor General Abraham Mwansa.
By KAIKO NAMUSA –
PRESIDENT Michael Sata has sworn in Musa Mwenye and Abraham Mwansa as Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, respectively.
During the swearing-in ceremony held at State House yesterday, President Sata congratulated the duo and encouraged them to work in the interest of the Zambian people.
This is according to a statement by State House Special Assistant for Press and Public Relations, George Chellah issued in Lusaka yesterday.
President Sata posted on his official Facebook page that, “I just finished swearing in Mr Musa Mwenye SC and Mr Abraham Mwansa SC as
Attorney-General and Solicitor-General, respectively”.
Mr Mwenye in an interview thanked President Sata for the appointment and pledged to execute his duties diligently.
He said despite the challenges, he would strive to strike a balance between policy, law and public interest.
“I want to repeat that I am grateful to President Sata for showing confidence in me. My role will be to balance between policy, law and public interest and I will do my very best in discharging my duties,” Mr Mwenye said.
On the debate on whether he should have commenced duties before being sworn in, Mr Mwenye said debate in a democracy was important but that it should be backed by law and facts and that people should avoid speculation.
The swearing-in ceremony was attended by Defence Minister Edgar Lungu, Information and Broadcasting Services Minister Joseph Katema, Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba and Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Mutembo Nchito.
Others were Secretary to the Cabinet Roland Msiska, Deputy Secretary to the Cabinet Ambassador Peter Kasanda, Public Service Commission chairperson Kawaye Kamanga, Justice Permanent Secretary Joseph Akafumba and Cabinet Office Permanent Secretary in charge of administration Margaret Miyoba, among others.
Debate had ensued particularly by the opposition political parties questioning whether Mr Mwenye was within his constitutional mandate to assume office before being sworn in.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) said in a statement that Mr Mwenye did not need to be sworn in by the President before starting to perform his duties.
LAZ vice-president Linda Kasonde clarified that a person who had taken oath for an office and was subsequently appointed to another office which had similar duties, did not need to take another oath if the duties of the new office were the same as those of the previous one.
Mr Mwenye was solicitor-general before being appointed as attorney-general taking over from Mumba Malila, who was appointed Supreme Court judge.
“That being the case, the current appointed attorney-general does hold the substantive office validity and can subsequently exercise his duties as such,” Ms Kasonde said.
