Tue, 02 Jan 2018 10:14:49 +0000
…cartel infiltrated Judiciary leads to delayed disposal of cases in courts of law
By AARON CHIYANZO
An impression has been created that inefficiency within the judiciary was being created by infiltration by the cartel.
3rd Liberation Movement (3rd LM) president, Enock Tonga has charged that some straight forward cases were being delayed in courts of law resulting in tension within the political body because of interpretation to substantive issues that were being rendered by opposing groups.
Mr Tonga said that courts in Zambia were now choked with straight forward, irrelevant and misplaced cases because of delays, sometimes blamed on the perception that some judicial officers were biased.
By tolerating irregularities, accepting misplaced submissions and delaying in disposing of cases a distinct impression had been created that the judiciary was infiltrated by the cartel.
Mr Tonga was reacting to former UPND spokesman Edward Mumbi who charged that CHISHIMBA Kambwili was abusing the judiciary by claiming to be PF while at the same time openly serving his new party.
He said that contrary to Mr. Mumbi’s assertion, it was the Judiciary to blame because it was allowing disgruntled individuals to take advantage of it.
Mr Tonga pointed out that individuals like Mr Kambwili were able to take advantage of the Judiciary because it had become inefficient by allowing a person who said one thing in court and exhibited a different personality outside the court.
“No one is abusing the courts here, Mr Kambwili has just taken advantage of the inefficiency within the Judiciary. Who is Kambwili to abuse the Judiciary? These are professionals, educated people and they know what they are doing, they know the confusion that people like Kambwili are causing in the nation” Mr Tonga said.
He also cited the eligibility of President Edgar Lungu to contest the 2021 which was being vigorously canvassed outside the courts of law by the opposition as a matter that required speedy settlement to bring finality.
Mr. Tonga charged that the Judiciary needed to be reorganized if it was to be seen to operate independently without outside influence.
He warned that as long as the cartel remained in the picture citizens would continue to harbor suspicion of outside influence in some matters of political interest.
Mr Tonga said that justice delayed was tantamount to denying an individual or organisation justice
