By Oliver Chisenga
THE Judiciary has for a long time been choking the justice delivery system, says Southern Africa Network against Corruption (SANAC) executive director Gregory Chifire.
Commenting on the removal of Sunday Nkonde from the office of judge of the High Court, Chifire said the country is confident that there shall soon be change in the Judiciary.
“Actually, we expected the President to go the Kenya route where all the positions in the Judiciary were frozen and fresh applications called. However, whatever route is taken as long as it bears fruits is welcome,” he said.
Last Friday, President Hakainde Hichilema, acting on recommendations contained in a report presented to him by the Judicial Complaints Commission, removed Nkonde from the office of judge of the High Court of Zambia.
Chifire described the process that President Hichilema has started to cleanse the Judiciary by removing erring judges as a step in the right direction.
Chifire has been in exile since the Supreme Court sentenced him to six-years imprisonment on charges of contempt in November 2018 but was recently pardoned by President Hichilema.
He had called for an investigation into potential judicial corruption involving one of the largest banks in the country and it is believed he was targeted as a result of this.
While welcoming Nkonde’s removal as judge, Chifire however said his prayer was that more would be done.
“Actually we expected the President to go the Kenya route where all the positions in the judiciary were frozen and fresh applications called. However, whatever route is taken as long as it bears fruits is welcome. And we are confident that in no time, there shall be change in the judiciary,” Chifire said. “It is an open secret that the happenings in the judiciary don’t inspire confidence. There is too much corruption in the judiciary to such an extent that judgments are either for sale or delivered on political lines. Some of us know these things.”
Chifire alleged that some judges and magistrates use cleaners, court clerks, marshals, interpreters, secretaries, and others to solicit bribes.
He added that some judges were promoted on partisan lines.
“And we know them. As such, we can’t continue to have such a Judiciary. Zambia needs to start breathing again. The Judiciary has for a long time been choking the justice delivery system. A society cannot survive with a compromised judiciary such as the one we currently have. We need speedy judicial reforms. That is the only way that will bring back public confidence in the judiciary,” he said.
Chifire said judicial officers must be above reproach.
“But in the recent past, we have seen rogue magistrates and judges. We have heard of magistrates and judges soliciting bribes from suspects. We have heard rumours of magistrates and judges receiving gratifications from parties involved in a case. This is extremely disheartening,” he said.
Chifire said time had come for the restoration of dignity in Zambia’s courts.
He said Zambians are yearning for judicial, constitutional, electoral and other reforms.
“That is one of the reasons why Zambians voted for change. They wanted change in every sphere of governance. Every effort to achieve that purpose such as the one that the President has embarked upon is welcome,” said Chifire.