4th April, 2017
The Zambian Government on Monday debunked reports that it had a decision on its membership to the International Criminal Court (ICC) as well as accusations that its public hearings on the matter was a waste of resources.
The government held public hearings in March to seek its citizens’ views on the country’s membership to the court following a resolution adopted by African leaders at the African Union (AU) Summit.
African leaders called for collective withdrawal from the ICC after accusing the court of targeting African leaders only, although the decision was not binding.
Some stakeholders accused the government of wasting public resources on a matter in which its outcome was pre-determined as it already had a position and had since demanded that the public hearings be scrapped.
The situation was exacerbated by revelation by top official from the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) who said President Edgar Lungu wanted Zambia to remain in ICC.
Mumbi Phiri, the Deputy Secretary General of the ruling party, said Lungu recently revealed this in a meeting with the party’s central committee that he wanted Zambia to remain with ICC.
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But Minister of Justice, Given Lubinda, said the government had not yet taken a position on the matter.
He said in a live interview at the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation that the government decided to consult stakeholders to maintain the tenets of democracy and get the views of the public before any decision would be made.
Zambia, he said, wanted to take a report to the AU in June this year, which represents views from stakeholders and that it will not halt the public hearing meetings as demanded by some stakeholders.
“Government is very surprised that the same people who championed the cause of participation, the cause of consultation are today turning around saying don’t consult us,” he said.
The government decided to take the root of consulting stakeholders because it did not want to be misunderstood on the matter.
The government is currently holding public hearings in 30 of the country’s districts while a national symposium will be held between 11th and 12th of April, before coming up with a final document to be taken to the AU summit in June.