Dr. Ron Mwambwa is 66 years old – well past the constitutional age limit of 60 for the Auditor General. Yet, in a move that defies both logic and legality, President Hichilema went ahead and appointed him anyway!
By Mpandashalo Mwewa.
Lusaka, Mar. 21 – When President Hakainde Hichilema stood before the nation and swore to defend the Constitution, many believed it was a promise etched in stone. Yet, here we are – watching him trample the very document that anchors our democracy.
Also Read: Institutionalised regionalism and corruption force Auditor General out! “The UPND agenda of institutionalised regionalism and corruption will have people arrested one day, and I will speak one day. In auditing, a paper trail always remains,” Dr. Sichembe.
The Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) has taken the Attorney General and the Auditor General, Dr. Ron Mwambwa, to court for one simple reason: Mwambwa is holding office illegally. But the real issue isn’t just about Mwambwa – it’s about the man who put him there.
▪️ The Illegal Appointment
On September 25, 2023, State House Communications Specialist Clayson Hamasaka announced that President Hichilema had appointed Dr. Ron Mwambwa as Auditor General, pending ratification by Parliament. However, there was a glaring problem – Mwambwa was already 66 years old.
The Constitution is crystal clear. Articles 249(1), 252(1), and 259(1)(a), along with Section 2 of the Public Audit Act, set the age limit for an Auditor General at between 45 and 60 years. Mwambwa, born on August 15, 1959, had long passed this threshold. His appointment was unconstitutional from day one.
The court petition filed by LAZ spells it out:
“The appointment of the 2nd Respondent, who at the material time had attained the age of sixty-four (64) years, contravened Articles 259(1)(a) and 252(1) of the Constitution of Zambia!”
Adding insult to injury, this illegal appointment has remained unratified by Parliament for over a year! – a blatant disregard for the law.
▪️ Hichilema Knew It Was Wrong – But Did It Anyway
What makes this breach even more damning is that President Hichilema was fully aware that the appointment was unconstitutional. Four years earlier, when Mwambwa was acting Auditor General, he couldn’t be officially appointed because he had already reached retirement age.
So, what changed? Not the law – just the President’s willingness to break it.
Also Read: Musa Mwenye: Not the Knight in Shining Armour He Claims to Be! State Counsel Musa Mwenye, who misbehaved during the UPND’s attempt to oust former Auditor General Dr. Dick Sichembe, should not view himself as a hero following his dismissal from the ACC Board.
▪️ A President Who Defies the Constitution Has No Right to Lead
Hichilema’s actions are not a mistake or an oversight – they are a deliberate abuse of power. A leader who disregards the Constitution has no moral ground to occupy the highest office in the land.
With a compromised Parliament unwilling to hold him accountable, impeachment is off the table. But Zambians have another way to remove a leader who disrespects the law: the ballot box.
Come 2026, the people of Zambia must impeach Hichilema at the polls for failing to uphold, respect, and defend the Constitution.
In a time when promises mean nothing, when words are empty, and when leaders betray the trust of those who elected them, Zambia needs more than just a politician – we need a statesman.
About The Author: Mpandashalo Mwewa, currently the Chief Editor at Woodpecker’s Digest, formerly held the same role at Zambia Reports. Known for championing Pan-African education reforms with a focus on critical thinking, he employs journalism to instigate social transformation.
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Thank you this great insight information, this Man has no better intentions for this Country. Well articulated and I quote “A leader who disregards the Constitution has no moral ground to occupy the highest office in the land.”
It is only blind followers will not see the dangers of his personal interest. Enough is enough
Resign Volunterily,you have done enough to get impeached.
Thank you for your feedback!