Civil rights activist Brebner Changala has asked the Judicial Complaints Authority (JCA) to take appropriate action against Judge Isaac Tantameni Chali for alleged misconduct and intimidation of litigants.
In a letter to the Chairperson of the JCA dated 18th July, 2014, Mr Changala said he was disturbed by the action of the judge who discredited his application for judicial review in which he had asked the court to compel Cabinet to establish a medical board to determine the health and mental status of President Michael Sata.
He explained that he was shocked when the judge attacked his person and also attacked the Daily Nation Newspaper which was not even party to the proceedings.Mr Changala has since demanded for a written apology from Judge Chali.
The civil rights activist has complained against Judge Chali’s ruling which disparages himself and the Daily Nation.
The paragraphs complained of in the ruling read;
‘the Daily Nation Newspaper whose reports appeared to him to be unguarded to the point of being reckless scandal-mongering’, the applicant was a ‘busy body that had impressed him as the kind Lord Diplock talks about” and that which referred to Mr Changala as “one who appears to have a misguided or trivial complaint of administrative error’.
Mr Changala complained that the conduct and comments against his person were inappropriate and should be frowned upon by all well meaning citizens including the judiciary.
“I find such remarks extremely offensive and grossly inappropriate in such circumstances. I thus demand for an apology for the sentiments that the judge uttered in his ruling against my person and the same be in writing failing which I ask that the chairperson of this Authority should take appropriate action against the judge as this flies in the teeth of misconduct on the part of the judge and an act of intimidation addressed at litigants who would want matters resolved through our perceived independent judiciary,” he said.
Mr Changala further said the action by the judge also demonstrated that the ruling was done purely out of sheer mischief and lack of understanding the function and duties of the office he was holding.
Two week ago, the civil rights activist sued the Attorney General by filing a Writ of Mandamus to compel Cabinet to constitute a medical board to investigate the health and mental status of President Michael Sata.In his ruling judge Chali dismissed the application and said that Mr Changala was a busy body.
[Daily Nation]
personally, i am not opposed to biased political journalism. In this case where the Daily nation and Watchdod are pro-opposition and the Post newspaper is pro-PF. this is not exclusive to our country alone but happens around the world.
What bothers me is the propaganda that the media institution may engage in.
As for Changala, he know that his application was going to fail ab-initio and now wants a face saver
Media which is not objective is dangerous to the Nation,like the Post,Daily,Times of Zambia,ZNBC and Zambia Daily Mail have proved to be useless in news disemination in order for citizens to make well informed decsions.These institutions are carriers of Democracy.
@Gen
Zambia Watchdog must not fall under the media category. It’s simply a blog
@ Gen. Changala was in this case smarter than you think. He knew quite alright the case would fail but he wanted to prove a point that the judiciary is rotten and he did. The ka misguided self-overrated judge proved Changala right even further with the ka emotional judgement. Even Changala’s complaint to another of the many rotten institutions we have in Zambia is just to further drive the point home. Learn to see beyond the obvious.
Its too much of Changala i wonder what he does for his living.I hope the comment from the Judge has put where Changala belongs.Its like Changala enjoys a state of anarchy.
I hope the comment by the Judge can bring sanity in Changala’s head. It seems he likes arguing too much
Your remarks are a waste of a biblical name that carries a lot of honour and wisdom.
You have to look beyond the obvious to notice whats going on. Changala has proved that indeed that the Judiciary is indeed in need of serious repair and the judgement in question proved that the judges are indeed biased and can not possibly be trusted to adjudicate in the proper sense of the word
Changala is doing what every Zambian should be doing, fighting for our rights as citizens. It’s just unbelievable that some people just won’t see Changala’s fight is our fight. He is exercising his civic responsibilities as a bonafide Zambian citizen. If all of us in Zambia were as public-spirited as Changala we would have got rid of the evil govt long before now. It’s almost like people don’t know what their rights are. Changala is right on the ball and must be vigorously supported, not chastened for doing what is right!
ati ba activist ba changanya bushilu ubu.
@wantanshi
spare me ,he is not fighting for me personaly wat wil i again from that selfishness fight aimed at benefiting only a minority group.which rights is fighting for? in whos interest is he doing that? come on,even my 5year boy can see that the atempt is pety and very childish n can only be tolareted by people like u who ar desparete to go to state house.