LUSAKA, April 9 (Xinhua) -- Zambian President Edgar Lungu on Tuesday pledged his government's commitment to providing an enabling environment for the rule of law to thrive.
The government is aware of the challenges Zambia and other Commonwealth countries are grappling with, hence the need to create an enabling environment for the rule of law to thrive, Lungu said.
"The importance of adherence to the rule of law cannot be over-emphasized," he said when he officiated at this year's Commonwealth Law Conference in the southern city of Livingstone, according to the state-run Zambia News and Information Service.
He said mechanisms, processes, institutions, practices or norms must all be seen to support the equality of all citizens before the law, secure a non-arbitrary form of government and prevent the arbitrary use of power.
The conference, which has attracted lawyers from Commonwealth member states, is being held under the theme, "The Rule of Law In Retreat? Challenges for the Modern Commonwealth."
The Zambian leader challenged legal practitioners to take up the mantle and provide constructive checks and balances to the three arms of government, adding that constructive criticism is important for the systems of government to work and flourish.
Lawyers, he said, should play a pivotal role of being watchdogs to ensure that the rule of law thrives.
