The Alliance for Good Governance (AGG) has expressed concern at the continued stay of Malawian judge Lovemore Chikopa in the country despite the tribunal he is supposed to preside over being on a stay.
Alliance chairperson Reverend Phukuta Mwanza observed that it will be better if Judge Chikopa returns to Malawi and follow the proceeds of the courts from there because he is only staying in Zambia at the expense of Zambian tax payers money.
Reverend Mwanza noted that once the case is disposed off by the courts of law and the tribunal becomes operational, he can return to Zambia and resume his assignment.
Speaking at a press conference this morning, Reverend Mwanza said Judge Chikopa’s continued stay in the country is a contrast to government’s policy of prudent utilization of public resources.
He said in as much as the president has powers to appoint any judge from any region, it works against the PF’s pronouncement of putting more money in the pockets of Zambians and is instead putting more money in the pockets of Malawians.
The Alliance for Good Governance comprises six organizations namely, the Evangelical Fellowship of Zambia (EFZ), the Foundation for Democratic Process (FODEP), the Zambia Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU), the Operation Young Vote (OYV), the Zambia Federation of the Disabled (ZAFOD), 2410 and the Press Association of Zambia (PAZA).
And alliance chairperson Phukuta Mwanza said the calls for the dissolution of the judiciary are unjustifiable stating that the move should be a last resort.
Reverend Mwanza said a complete sudden dissolution of the judiciary will only have far serious consequences on the huge number of cases currently in the various courts countrywide.
He said the alliance is in full support of judicial reforms but states that the approach should be handled with caution and objectivity and not bitterness and hate.
[QFM]
Ukwanomics at work!
until the mission is fullfilled. chikopa stays in zambia. these judges think they are sacred and cannot be touched aiii. wapya munzi. the president can easily dissolve judiciary.
tiyenayo sata.. we are behind u boi. unzasu
what is he doing . . . . nothing and this might go on for six months hahahahaha more money in chikopas pockets
why should zambians be paying for this man to hang around here doing nothing? UNZASU you are very dull what are you studying at unza just wasting our tax payers money with this malawian
And where Fr Bwalya? That hypocritical pharisee who cant see anything wrong with Sata.
Its indeed more money in Malarian pockets
Exactly, why hold this Malawi judge hostage? Surely he is getting bored of Pamodzi food and watching TV in his room so let the man go home and bring him back when needed. A plane ticket isn’t that much compared with keeping him here doing nothing. Whose the corrupt one now?
You are right about the fact that this guy should go home till he’s needed. But when you say corruption, what do you mean? This is now you confuse issues and end up losing an regiment even if you were right in the first place.
Fair enough, but I think it depends on your definition of corruption. If you consider corruption to be a willful waste of resources then keeping the judge here more than likely qualifies and could perhaps even be seen as an attempt to taint his perceptions and influence the outcome. Is this stealing? No, because the costs are State sanctioned. Does that make the waste of resources any better for Zambia? Not really. Unless she has flip-flopped on this, for example, Prof. Luo banned all workshops in her Ministry because of the money being wasted on allowances and people cheered. Now we want to keep a foreign judge on indefinite allowances….at Pamodzi… plus his professional fees (….which are surely not cheap for a judge)? So tell me, is that corruption or just a waste of money?Â
You telling me chikopo is still pa zed?
I understand he wanted transparency by appointing a foreign judge as opposed to putting more money in Malawians pockets.. My only worry is there is too much going on in the country involving malawi, this tribunal not forgetting the fuel within a short period of time…I smell a RAT a big rotten one
Maybe you have a point. Please elaborate.
Who ordained Pukuta? we know you are corrupt he will stay as long as the judiciary does not corparate, august is very near before CJ’s contract expires.
And where Fr Bwalya? That hypocritical pharisee who cant see anything wrong with Sata.
And i want him to continue to blaspheme as he was doing in rain of RB
I’m still waiting for my share from the previous campaign before I can start blaspheming as usual.
No one is indispensable. Sata holds the arms of government and he is the controlling officer. He can easily dissolve the judicially and appoint new judges to restore sanity in the judicially. He is such a gentleman to allow the judges to challenge him. That’s the beauty of democracy.
These corrupt judges who doesn’t know what they got from Mohane? The truth will one day come out.
I know  wrongly believes that Judiciary is insane but that is due to his lack of education. But do you honestly believe that dissolving the judiciary and Sata hand picking new Judges will bring SANITY anywhere? Least the Judiciary? You must be one of those on the payroll to dilute what is otherwise clear to any sane person.
I meant to say.. I know Sata wrongly….
Its a worry, there is something wrong in the judiciary. Don’t talk as though Zambia’s history has only began when PF got into power. There might be something wrong in the way issues are being handled, but that does not change the fact. Not all judges are corrupt, of course, but you can not honestly say that all our institutions in Zambia, especially the judiciary, are clean. Even the church has corrupt elements who pray only for G.O.D, as in Government Of the Day, so what more the judiciary? Since Kaunda’s time there has been politics of patronage in Zambia, right through Chiluba, a bit limited during Mwanawasa’s tenure, fully blown again during RB’s tenure. Its ok to dislike PF and Sata, but that dislike should not blind us to the real issues at stake.Â
The Equaliser’ which of Sata’s appointments gives you the confidence that we are headed in the right direction? All those judges you are calling corrupt were not appointed by Rupiah and I believe that if they were corrupt in Rupiah’s time they must have been corrupt way back, Rupiah only ruled for 3 years so do not heap all the blame on him. In fact most lawyers are shocked that men of integrity like Kajimanga and Mutuna are subject of this silly tribunal. It is very upsetting that this tribunal is a result of the DBZ saga and people are happy with it. This is a witch-hunt which hurting people. The Judges even if they will win, they will be bruised. It is good that they too are fighting back.
#6 Chikopo was last seen bungee jumping like Lubinda in the polluted waters of vic falls…at yours and mine expense.
But who says Judge Chikopa is just ere loafing and getting bored. I am sure there is a lot of groundwork he is doing toward the mandate he has been given. He is probably going through some information pertaining to the case at hand. problem is that we have too many ‘expert’ in Zambia, who think that  the government is full of daft people who need to be told what to do. I want to believe that the President has a lot more information and able to make wise decision.
OK, but why can’t he do his background reading at home without the cost of keeping him here? And if he needed to do all this “groundwork” as you say, why was the commission scheduled to start….. what… two weeks ago?…. three weeks ago? Either he was ready to start his work then or he was not, so why must the taxpayer (you and I) keep forking out something more…. indefinitely?
Champ, you may be right, but you may also be wrong. It is possible that watching the circus that the judges have put on could give him some clues into the nature of the grounds he is here to investigate. I am not saying his stay is justified. I am just saying what facts do you have to strongly believe beyond reasonable doubt that he is doing nothing?
I guess what I’m saying is that no government (….least of all this one) deserves the benefit of the doubt. If the judge is being productive and doing things that could not be done at home then let GRZ show us and explain why the cost of keeping him here is justified. I wouldn’t be difficult to make a press statement on this or even get ZANIS to run a news item. Like No. 13, I too want to believe that the President has a lot more information and is able to make wise decisions, but that does not mean we should assume the President is making wise decisions. As it stands now, it looks like a waste of money and might just as well turn the question upside down and ask what facts do you have to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he is being productive.
A mfumu a Chikopa idnu olemekezeka pitani kwanu anthu awa a kuchititsani manyazi kwabasi…inu pothera pake muoneka ngato osokonzeeka koma ndinu olemekezeka! anthu a Zambia akudyetsani njomba…..!
Can judge chikopo go back pleaseÂ
Judge “Chikopo” can’t go back to ‘malabi’, I need him to take over our judges’ duties. All Zambian judges are corrupt. Except judge Wood, of course.
# 11 kapitao…The Judiciary is not Just the High Court or Supreme court….its a wing of Govt! The dissolution of it means disolution of the xexecutive as well as the legislature and that means…fresh elections….and if elections were called today even Ken Ngondo from hisagrave can beat your man!
did you mean chama chakomboka
Fred Mmembe should say something, followed by his vice Corpse Nchito and their secretary Sata
Evidence of a  government ruled by one individual. A government controlled by one person. A government without the peoples consent. A government of lies and deception. A government in political chaos/confusion.  A government, with one individual who’s desire of envy was to get into State House with no plan or vision for Zambia: but to stand one day in power and raise his fist in the air after idolising R Mugabe for years (who destroyed Zimbabwe) and chant  “Pamberi  ne Zanu PF” which one day will be a chant of “Pamberi ne Don’t Kubeba PF”The picture says it all. Dictator in the making!
You seem to be talking about HH. A government without the people’s consent? Were there no elections? Guys. Chiluba plucked you over. RB and William Banda beat the crap out of our people in Chongwe, Mufumbwe, Barotseland… Maybe Sata is a dictator in the making, I don’t know, but you’ve had worse.
Kekekekekeke I heard someone say exactly this on Saturday. Sata’s GOAL was to get into State House as the President of the Republic and that was all. Thereafter it was fikalisova! Had he died after the Swearing in session he would have died the happiest man.
I didn’t see The Equaliser’s response to your blog. The Equaliser get appointed the advisor of Sata and advise him. Not everyone who is opposed to Sata is HH’s supporter. I have never supported HH. I am against what Sata is doing to the country even though I am not physically affected, mentally it is stressing me out. In fact HH for now can do whatever he wants as he is not under scrutiny. He is a commoner like you and me. Sata is the one pamupanda baa sa! So let us scrutinise each and every move. Leave others, what they do does not affect us but what Sata does affects us, plain and simple.
Since the supreme court hearing of the appeal is pretty soon, the govt feels confident that the high court stay will be overturned at the supreme court, hence the need to keep the tribunal chair around.
However, should the supreme court uphold the lower court decision, then judge Chikopa’s continued stay will become moot and unreasonable.
The inescapable and indisputable fact is, judicial reforms have to be undertaken with or without resistance by the judicial officers
Sata exercising his power by using the jucidary as a testing ground. This isn’t about cleaning up corruption. Speculation is healthy…….. Take heed. Be cautious of the man in power. Too much power for one man can be dangerous!Â
#17 wait for the Livingstone by – election results thats a litmus test. Chikopa is here to stay until we have the report of the tribunal…..
You wonder, this guys should be the one complaining . He can go back to Malawi and attend to his oustanding cases at home, all Judges usually have a huge backlog, and when the shennegans are done he can come back. Malawi is just a spitting distance from Lusaka.
he is having a good time here, and besides there is chaos in malawi with the devaluing of their currency prices have sky rocketed so he needs to earn his per diem to do some reasonable shopping for his family.
The title says CSO. What has Central Statics Office got to with the story? Another LT editing problem?
Exactly my question.
Civil Society Organisations
CSO also stands for Cival Society Organizations. Think outside the box.Â
Kikikiki,,,, dalu, dalu, anyways its humour i guess.
In fairness, I suppose the statisticians might also be concerned about the waste of money.Â
AChimwene a Chikopa, pitani kwanu ku Malabi. Ise sitimufunani kwabasi kunonso ku Zambia.
U are busy chewing tax payers oney and feating hule’s from Malaya Nite Club. Go back until the case is disposed off in court. Your court cases u reside on in Malawi are pending. Justice is denied to those pipo awaiting our court session.
get the hell out of zambia malawan
# 24 CSO in this case is Civil Society Organisations….not Central Statics Office… wakolewa!
In control of the ship, ubwato, we have a captain who does not know how to read the map. Therefore, it is anyone’s guess where we are going because we shall all be as suprised as the captain himself. The PF govt does not understand reforms and hence they do not understand how to go about transforming this arm into a Bemba dominated one. Sad; simple message bwana Sata just fire all judges and put 70% from Muchinga and the rest let them share the 30%. Your plan is too plain for all to see.
We are in the Titanic; this time it is not the iceberg that will sink it but just the cool calm water itself due to the dangerous waves of the Captain
CHIKOPA MUST LEAVE WITHOUT ANY FURTHER DELAY OR WE WILL TAKE TO THE STREET, WE HAVE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO ARE SUFFERING IN THIS COUNTRY WHY SHOULD THEY BE WASTING OUR MONEY ON WITCH HUNTING AND DEFENDING/ COVERING THE THEFT OF K14 BILLION ZAMBIANN (DBZ)?
PF does npot believe in doing anything in an orderly way, HEMCS is used to ‘drastic, haphazard and face the consequencies later’ approach. One day, he will land with his head first and that could be serious.
Chikopa should go back by road to reduce expenses. The money he is taking in doing nothing is more than the cost of the air tickect for the round trip.
Chikopo is under luxury hotel arrest, that is why he cant go back even if he wants to.
Ka Chikopo kaliba slim bwino sana, abena mmembe enshita yaku kalasa panuma daily pa pamodzi…opo takalaya.
WHICH IS MORE EXPENSIVE? TO KEEP A HOST OF CORRUPT JUDGES PASSING QUESTIONABLE SENTENCES OR TO SUPPORT ONE GOOD JUDGE WHOSE MISSION IS TO SWEEP ALL THE FILTH THAT THESE JUDGES HAVE BEEN SWEEPING UNDER THE CARPET?
ANY WAY, WITH OR WITHOUT CHIKOPA, THE JUDICIARY MUST BE SUSPENDED.
let this chikopo go back..what does he want here..he’s stealing our money..
the arguments by the churches make sense. Let the PF govt be reasonable and not use emotions.
Chikopa is not just seating he is doing a desk study and when the case comments he will conclude within 1 week, so don’t bwatabwata he has even interviewed some people in connection with the same case CHIKOPA NIWA CHABE aza mukopani monse.
ENOUGH IS ENOUGH YOU FOOLS !!!
UKWA OUT !
JUDGE CHIKOPO OUT N BACK TO MALAWI !
‘DPP’ NCHITO OUT !
MMEMBE AND POST-MOTERM OUT !
HYPOCRITICAL FATHERLESS BWALYA OUT !
NCHITO AND MMEMBE PAY BACK THE K14BILLION
PERIOD !
YOU TOLD PEOPLE LIES OVER RB. GOD’S JUDGEMENT IS NOW UPON YOU !!!
A Chikopo mangani mkeka mumyamuke, muyambeko ka! Simudziwa kuti mukakhalitsa kuno kwathu amai omwe mudasiya okha kunyumba kuja adzayamba kuyenda yenda ndi kusewera kwina?
Why the organisation for Father Bwalya i not part of AGG? Is the chariman the son to Mr NDOMBI of lunguza village , chief mwanjawanthu, ku Petauke kwa nsenga? if so , very good choice, the man is very intelligent and mature not ma gong’a reverands like ………..fill in the blanks
No sex for 3 months Judge Chikopa sure!?. Better go back and take care your bedroom and chiildren bwana.
Let this man go back, PF we are tired of your baseless decisions! you day of reckoning is coming in 2016, remember the way we got rid of RB, Zambians are not dull!
Those 2 Zambian judges on the tribunal do not give me any confidence at all, I believe they were the worst ever in the Judiciary. Life is such-lies in the morning, lies in the afternoon and lies at night. As for the topic at hand I would have been happier with Sata perhaps getting a Judge from Namibia or Botswana, there is something about Malawi that just doesn’t sit well with me.