By ANDREW MUKOMA
THE Judiciary in Livingstone has identified and referred 44 out of 182 active cases before the High Court for mediation.
Livingstone High Court Judge in Charge Chilombo Bridget Maka disclosed this during the re-launch of Mediation Settlement Week 2023 in Livingstone.
Justice Maka said the expectations of the Judiciary is that a reasonable number of cases will be settled at mediation.
“It is our hope that as more cases are settled at mediation, litigants and lawyers will come to value and embrace mediation as an effective means to settle disputes,” she said.
And Chief Justice Mumba Malila has urged lawyers to direct their clients to mediation as a solution to resolve disputes.
Dr Malila, S.C. has said that a lawyer always attempts to advise their clients to alternative solution of resolving their disputes, which is through mediation.
He said there is no need for lawyers to proceed to trial when one knows too well that there is no merit to proceed with trial.
The Chief Justice said the process of mediation is meant to satisfy both parties adding that lawyers must therefore embrace and support mediation without prioritizing a fee note.
This was contained in a speech read on his behalf by Supreme Court Judge Nigel Kalonde Mutuna who is the chairperson for the Advisory Committee on Court Annexed Mediation and Delay Reduction during the launch of the Service Charter in Livingstone on Wednesday.
Southern Province Minister Cornelius Mweetwa represented by Livingstone Mayor Constance Muleabai noted that mediation is necessary in reducing the load of cases and that it was a less costly measure. Mr Mweetwa said that mediation is one of the innovative ways the Judiciary was using to deliver justice.
