Ndola High Court Judge Timothy Katenekwa says one of the key requirements for the judiciary to be free and independent are secured adequate funding.
Justice Katenekwa says in spite of the judiciary having continued to operate effectively; the institution in the northern jurisdiction still faced a number of challenges in the area funding, transport and infrastructure.
The high Court Judge was speaking during the ceremonial opening of the High Court criminal Session for the Copperbelt, Luapula and Northern provinces, yesterday.
Justice Katenekwa said the inadequate infrastructure has posed a challenge as the current high court building was built with only offices for two judges and two court rooms.
He said with the increase in the establishment of judges and support staff, there is urgent need to have more court rooms and office space.
Justice Katenekwa said any well functioning democracy needs a free and independent judiciary where funding is also adequate and sound.
He said government should ensure that it funds the institution on time because justice delivery is one of the key demands of the Zambian people.
The judge also appealed to government to increase and improve support to other stakeholders in the justice delivery system.
He mentioned these as been the Zambia Police, office of the DPP, Legal AID, Zambia Prison Service and the social welfare department.
Justice Katenekwa said the operations of the judiciary will not be smooth if these key stakeholders are not adequately catered for the areas of manpower, transport and adequate funding.
He said for the justice delivery system to operate efficiently and effectively, it as necessary that all the key stakeholders are in a position to move at the same pace.
He however expressed happiness at the recent directive by the head of state to the attorney and solicitor general’s to look at the conditions of lawyers employed by the legal aid board.
He also said the increase of judges from four to six at Ndola has greatly helped in dispensing cases as only cases to be heard during this year’s session were committed last year.,
The judge called on all those involved in public service particularly the justice delivery system to rise to the occasion and perform their duties effectively to sure that the Zambian public enjoy their rights in full.
And Copperbelt Province Minister Rodgers Mwewa who was guest of honour said government recognises the judiciary as an important arm of the state and partner in delivering good governance to the Zambian people.
The minister said the PF government is committed to rule of law and will strive to address the issues of inadequate infrastructure and funding to the judiciary and other stakeholders.
Mr Mwewa said government has adopted a zero tolerance to corruption in order to implement a number of programmes to improve the social conditions of people and ensure that resources are spent properly.
He urged the judiciary to play its role to ensure that corruption cases are properly handled and appropriate sentence meted out.
ZANIS
Zambian judges you are the most corrupt people who have failed to exercise justice for majority zambians suffering, you dont respect our constitutional law, hence you have weaken Zambian laws, you protect thieves coz mulya nambo. you dont deserve adquate funding period.
I do aggrey with you #1 the judiciary is the most corrupt institution in all Govt departments. The Judges and the Margistrates are the most corrupt civil servants.The cases tend to take long not becos of less funding nor less manpower but because the longer the case take the more they milk theaccused affluent. The corruption cases are the examples,becos they are being paid behind closed doors. They made millions fromm Kafupi’s corrupt cases. To solve the malaise a court at the same level as high court should be established sooner than later.
Wrong. Judge. You can be earning a million dollars a year and given a billion dollars to run the juduciary but if you are vulnerable before the appointing authority, the judiciary will still not be independent. What we need are systems that will prevent the executive from manipulating the jusdiciary- issues around who appoints you?
1. Judges need security of tenure. Once appointed they should enjoy security of office for life and should only be dismissed if a tribunal proves misconduct.
2. Appointments should be made not by the President but by the Judicial Services commission and the Legislative assembly.
3. It has nothing to do with funding, but integrity.
4. It may be high time for Zambians to have a public jury system for certain cases. The Colonialists did not trust illiterate black Africans to be good jurors and we have maintained this stereotypical posistion. There are enough Zambians who can judge their peers.
Well articulated Judge Katanekwa.
Awe ba Judge mwabepa. Funding has nothing to do with it. If judges need independence the Executive should not appoint them. Let Parliament be the appointing authority like #4 says. In fact judges should have been in the forefront of such a campaign but what do Zambian judges do? Remain as silent as a tortoise because they are worried about where the next meal will come from if the President fires them.
I echo the points made at No:4. The Zambian Judiciary is not independent and it is clearly evident that the sitting Executive runs the institution. Therefore, the system should campaign for absolute separation of power.
Number 1 Mwiponta Mukabwela, Most Ndola residents who have had an encounter with Judge Katenekwa know how corrupt he is. During his tenure as Industrial Relations Court Judge in Ndola he connived with lawyers from Companies to deny a lot people justice. My late Father died of depression because his case dragged on for years in the courts and finally he was not given the compensation that was befitting. Judge Katenekwa connived with the late Zambia Railways company lawyer Mr. Nsefu do deny a lot of ex-Zambia Railways their dues.
They pay racist corrupt judges like William Forrest yet can’t find money for transport. There is no respect for the rule of law which is why people are being forced to take justice into their own hands. There are cases being ‘shelved’ which could generate billions yet because a few rich people have stolen the money the rest of Zambia has to suffer. You are wrong judge and whatever blood spills because of corrupt judiciary is also on your hands because you personally have seen it yet you have not brought charges or informed the Ministry of Justice nor the people. The blood is on your hands and no amount of money will change the fact that you do not respect the rule of law or Zambians for that matter. That’s why hardly anyone can be bothered responding to lies
I GOT YOUR JUSTICE DELIVERY SYSTEM RIGHT HERE JUDGE! FOR HAVING THE CHEEK TO ASK FOR MORE MONEY THAN YOU HAVE ALREADY LINED YOUR POCKETS WITH, FOR THE INJUSTICES CAUSED BY YOUR CORRUPT WAYS, FOR THE SUFFERING THOSE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES HAD TO GO THROUGH BECAUSE OF YOUR CORRUPT NATURE, FOR THE LIES, FOR THINKING YOU ARE ABOVE THE LAW, FOR NOT RESPECTING THE OFFICE AND POSITION YOU HOLD, FOR LETTING DOWN THE INNOCENT AND VICTIMS OF CRIME BECAUSE OF YOUR CORRUPT WAYS – YOU ARE NOW PART OF OUR FOCUS. JUSTICE YOU FAILED TO SERVE WILL BE SERVED ON YOU AND YOUR FAMILY AND LEARN TO SHUT YOUR CORRUPT MOUTH BECAUSE YOU ARE ADDING INSULT TO INJURY STUPID *****.
THANKS FOR THE CENSORING LK!
#8 I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT LACK OF JUSTICE AND TRYING TO FIGHT FOR IT CAN DO TO A PERSON AND THEIR FAMILY WHICH IS WHY PERSONALLY I THINK DEATH IS TOO KIND FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TOO. UNLESS YOU AND THOSE DEAREST TO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH NO ONE CAN JUDGE BUT I DO PROMISE YOU THIS, JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED NOT JUST TO HIM THE SAME WAY YOU AS SOMEONES CHILD HAD TO BEAR THE PAIN SO WILL HIS EXCEPT EVEN WORSE. THESE PEOPLE WERE WARNED AND HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO CHANGE YET THEY ACT MORE EGOTISTICAL AND VERGE ON RUDENESS. ZR WORKERS HELPED BUILD THE COUNTRY, I DO REMEMBER AND FOR THAT WE OWE THEM WHICH IS WHY I WILL STILL SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT
THANKS FOR THE CENSORING LK!
#8 I AM SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS. I UNDERSTAND WHAT LACK OF JUSTICE AND TRYING TO FIGHT FOR IT CAN DO TO A PERSON AND THEIR FAMILY WHICH IS WHY PERSONALLY I THINK DEATH IS TOO KIND FOR SOME OF THESE PEOPLE AND THEIR FAMILIES TOO. UNLESS YOU AND THOSE DEAREST TO YOU HAVE EXPERIENCED SUCH NO ONE CAN JUDGE BUT I DO PROMISE YOU THIS, JUSTICE WILL BE SERVED NOT JUST TO HIM THE SAME WAY YOU AS SOMEONES CHILD HAD TO BEAR THE PAIN SO WILL HIS EXCEPT EVEN WORSE. THESE PEOPLE WERE WARNED AND HAVE HAD A CHANCE TO CHANGE YET THEY ACT MORE EGOTISTICAL AND VERGE ON RUDENESS. ZR WORKERS HELPED BUILD THE COUNTRY, I DO REMEMBER AND FOR THAT WE OWE THEM WHICH IS WHY I WILL STILL SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT
Nomba mwala lapila! Guuud, It’s about time these judges know justice. They fail the people too many times. You have my support any day DK!