Hichilema suspends another High Court judge
By Tony Nkhoma
HIGH Court judge Emelia Phiri Sunkutu has become the latest casualty to be suspended by President Hakainde Hichilema.
On September 23, 2024, Hichilema fired three Constitutional Court judges Annie Sitali, Mungeni Mulenga and Palan Mulonda.
In a statement issued on May 28, 2025 by State House Principal Private Secretary Bradford Machila, Hichilema had suspended Justice Sunkutu with immediate effect.
Machila said Hichilema acted on the recommendations in the report presented to him by the Judicial Complaints Commission (JCC).
“The suspension of Justice Sunkutu is in exercise of the powers vested in the President pursuant to article 144 (3) of the Constitution of Zambia,” Machila said.
Justice Sunkutu joins a long list of Judges suspended by Hichilema in less than a year on recommendations by the JCC.
Other Judges suspended and fired were judges Sitali, Mulenga, and Mulonda.
Hichilema’s sacking of the three top judges drew further accusations of political interference in the judiciary and raised mixed reactions to their dismissal as political tensions begin to rise ahead of the 2026 general elections.
