By PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
THE State, the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ), United Party for National Development (UPND) and a Lusaka resident have filed a consent order to merge court petitions where the trio is challenging the continued stay of Cabinet ministers in office.
LAZ, UPND secretary general Stephen Katuka and Richard Mumba have filed separate actions before the Constitutional Court challenging the continued stay of ministers in office and continued drawing from the emoluments after the dissolution of the Parliament on May 13 this year.
Representing Cabinet members, the Attorney General applied to have the three matters consolidated on grounds that they were seeking similar relief.
According to a consent filed before Constitutional Court President Hildah Chibomba yesterday, the parties agreed to have the matters consolidated, as it would not affect the process filed in the individual petitions.
“That the court will hear the petitions in the  consolidated cause at the  same  time and in sequence  based on the filed process, but will render one judgment,” read the consent order in part.
The order stated that the parties were at liberty to amend their process no later than three days from yesterday.
The order signed by Messrs Robson Malipenga and Company, Messrs PNP Advocates, Messrs Keith Mweemba Advocates, Messrs Simeza, Sangwa and Associates and the Attorney General‘s Chambers also proposed a status conference on June 29 this year to agree on how the matter would proceed.