Fri, 09 Jun 2017 14:30:12 +0000
By AARON CHIYANZO
I MISS the old Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) which used to stand in for the judiciary when attacked and used to give guidance where it was due, says lawyer Tutwa Ngulube.
Mr Ngulube said that the current LAZ executive had been failing to provide proper leadership as mandated by the constitution.
He pointed out that it was what led to the squabbles that had engulfed the association in the recent past because members wanted a LAZ that would guide the nation.
Mr Ngulube who is Patriotic Front (PF) Kabwe Central Member of Parliament said the current LAZ was failing to protect the judiciary when attacked or to guide the nation on legal matters.
“Instead of protecting the judiciary, we are seeing LAZ joining or trying to join court cases where the people involved are saying the judges are compromised” he said.
Mr Ngulube reiterated that he missed the old LAZ which would stand in for the judicial officers when attacked and would guide the national on legal matters.
He anticipated that most of the members felt the same way as could be seen from the low turnout during important meetings.
Mr Ngulube however charged that it was his hope that LAZ would tone down and stop behaving like a political party following the last agreement at the recent AGM in Livingstone.
Meanwhile, Mr Ngulube condemned the unprecedented attacks on the judiciary and its officers by some symphasisers of the opposition UPND.
He said that the judiciary was like an elephant in the room without the muscle to defend itself hence it was absurd to attack it.
Mr Ngulube pointed out that people only attacked the judiciary when the proceedings seemed not to go in their favour.
He dispelled claims that the judicial system in Zambia was compromised and used to persecute people who were against the ruling party.
Mr Ngulube reiterated that Zambia had one of the most fair, objective and credible legal systems in Africa.
