The attack on Davis Mwila is a direct kick at the belly of Lady Justice given where it occurred- Amos Chanda

The recent physical assault on former Patriotic Front (PF) Secretary-General Davis Mwila within the precincts of the Supreme Court of Zambia has sent shockwaves across the political landscape, drawing fierce condemnations from various quarters. The incident, which occurred following court proceedings relating to an election petition, has reignited intense national debate regarding the safety of political figures and the persistent scourge of cadre violence. Prominent public figure Amos Chanda did not mince words in his reaction, characterizing the brazen attack as a direct kick at the belly of Lady Justice, underscoring the alarming audacity of perpetrators who chose the nation's highest temple of law to settle political scores. Eyewitness reports indicate that tensions flared outside the courtroom before boiling over into physical confrontation, leaving the former cabinet minister and ruling party stalwart roughed up. The Supreme Court, which should stand as an unassailable sanctuary of peace, neutrality, and solemn adjudication, was instead turned into a theater of political lawlessness. Observers note that carrying political turf wars onto court grounds degrades judicial independence and intimidates judicial officers, litigants, and legal practitioners alike. Such brazen acts threaten to erode public confidence in the administration of justice at a time when institutional integrity is paramount for Zambia's democratic consolidation. This violent episode follows a tense succession of political hostilities and factional infighting that have continued to plague the fractured opposition party alongside heightened friction with the ruling administration. Civil society organizations and legal bodies have repeatedly cautioned that unchecked political intolerance poses an existential threat to peace. While political actors frequently pay lip service to the rule of law, incidents of street and court-premises thuggery demonstrate a glaring gap between political rhetoric