LAZ calls for crisis indaba

Fri, 24 Mar 2017 15:10:33 +0000

BY CHIKUMBI KATEBE

THE Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is to hold crisis meetings in Lusaka and the Copperbelt to chart the way forward following divisions that have rocked the association.

This also follows the publication of the draft bill for the creation of other law societies that will eliminate the monopoly of LAZ.

LAZ president Linda Kasonde, in a circular to all association members, has called on the engagement to help tackle issues facing the institution, including the divisions which have arisen, compromising public confidence in the association.

She said as a result the LAZ Council has called for Town Hall meetings in Lusaka and the Copperbelt on 31st March and 7th April, 2017, respectively.

“Your council believes that if we are to continue to be a strong, relevant reliable voice, if we are to continue to be a credible professional body, then we must stand together in spite of whatever differences we may have and emerge from this challenge even stronger, more united and more resolute,” she said.

She said the council believed that members should be allowed to express their views on matters affecting them and outlined the need for such caucus scheduled before the LAZ annual general meeting on May 6.

According to the circular, the Town Hall meetings are scheduled to discuss, among other things, the draft private member’s Bill which should be tabled before Parliament during the next session  in June 2017.

Ms Kasonde acknowledged the need for members to bring their ideas to the floor over the private Bill, and has called for member engagement over the issue.

“We have heard calls from various members requesting a platform to air their views on the proposed private member’s Bill.

“Firstly, we wish to state that the proposed Bill will not be tabled in this session of Parliament which adjourns on Tuesday 29 March 2017 and only resumes in June 2017. This gives us a bit of time for engagement over the issue,” she said.

She said the association could have called for an extraordinary meeting to look at the Bill, but that with only a few weeks before the AGM, it would be inappropriate to call for such a meeting, and that with the seriousness of the matter, it required huge participation which could only be attained at an AGM to be held soon.

And lawyer Robison Malipenga hailed LAZ for the invitation to speak openly about issues affecting lawyers under the LAZ Act.

He explained that with Town Hall meetings, lawyers should address the issue of the Bill which proposes the formation of splinter associations.

“LAZ wants to hear its members on the proposed private members Bill, and depending on the resolutions, this may help us lobby Parliament on the direction of whether to support the Bill or not,” he said.

Mr Malipenga said although the Town Hall meetings could not compel Parliament on the direction of the Bill, “as lawyers we could use the outcome to lobby the legislature on the way forward on the Bill”.