Acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda has appointed a tribunal to probe Tourism and Arts Minister Sylvia Masebo for alleged misconduct.
Ms Justice Chibesakunda, who appointed the tribunal under the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act, stated that the tribunal would be chaired by High Court Judge Roydah Kaoma, while members include Justices Chalwe M’chenga and Livingstone Judge Ernest Mukulwamutiyo.
This is in a matter in which Lusaka business executive, William Harrington had obtained a judgment in his favour after seeking judicial review in the High Court over Ms Justice Chibesakunda’s decision to refuse to appoint a tribunal to probe Ms Masebo.
“This serves to inform you that I have appointed a tribunal under the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code Act for purposes of considering your complaints against Ms Masebo and the said judges have been appointed to serve on the tribunal,” she said in her letter dated November 15, 2013 addressed to Mr Harrington.
Lusaka High Court Judge Dominic Sichinga had ruled that Mr Harrington had the right to be heard through a tribunal against Ms Masebo in the matter in which she is alleged to have abused her authority regarding Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) operations.
Mr Justice Sichinga said in his judgment that the Parliamentary and Ministerial Code of Conduct required that acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda appoints a tribunal to probe the allegations against Ms Masebo.
The acting Chief Justice had earlier refused to appoint a tribunal on grounds that Mr Harrington had not supplied her with sufficient facts and particulars on the alleged breaches that Ms Masebo had committed.
But Mr Justice Sichinga said the decision by the acting Chief Justice to refuse to appoint a tribunal was flawed because Mr Harrington had the right to be heard under Section 13 (1) and (3) of the Act.
In July this year, Mr Harrington asked the Lusaka High Court to order Ms Justice Chibesakunda to appoint a tribunal to investigate Ms Masebo over alleged corrupt activities and irregularities at ZAWA.
[Times of Zambia]
Acting Thief Justice is a purppet for the executive, atleast she has now accepted that she was wrong to refuse to appoint a tribunal. SHAME ON HER.
Latest has it that the injunction has been issued not to probe Masebo.
ZWD latest
Elo abuka nomba?
Acting Chief Justice! awe sure…old lady go and rest,even the greatest dancer leaves the stage!
hehehe even if the audience wants the show to continue.
I like the sort of maturity Zambian courts are getting to! They seem to be providing checks-and-balances to each other without undue outside influences. It is really not hard to see that without political interferences Zambian courts are capable of attaining the respectability they deserves.
The only thing we swiftly need to work on are judicial reforms so that even those without/limited means (poor folks) can have a fair shake at obtaining justice. If only politicians/Govt can leave the courts and its supporting organs alone to do their jobs, our legal system can become the envy of the region.
Thats why we must change the constitution!
Every dog has its day…..
The moral of the universe may be long but its bends towards justice
Martin Luther King Jr 1969
The moral arch of the universe may be long but its bends towards justice
Martin Luther King Jr 1969
And no lie can live forever….
I may not be there with you but i can see the mountain top….
Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter….
Martin Luther King Jr 1969
Mmembe has appealed against the decision or sorry malila. Anyway the cartel has appealed on behalf of their member. They cant see their own go down without a fight.
Sylvia….. Its time the cracks are open ,i hope you are ready.
In a normal functioning government Silva Masebo should have resigned as Dora did in the MMD government. But in this one I doubt it. Even a convict of forgery is still honorable Deputy Minister!!!!!
misunderstood.he did not forge it personally neither is it a forged certificate.Only that he was not eligible to be awarded with one because he did not clear all the ZICA tech 2 subjects.
She must go and join Masumba.
Ha,Ha,Ha here we go again country men and women continue staying tuned to these lovery episodes….as you will hear things unfold.It might just be yr much esteemed honourables becaming dishonoured one by one.
Leave sylvia alone. Lets support the women in cabinet. Masebo be strong and focused as usual….
The Acting Chief Justice being made to do her job by a High Court Judge. Why can’t she do the moral thing by resigning.
Yah, as long as God is on the throne and no one, I mean nobody can remove Him from there, this means I am well and sound. He sees the end from the beginning so these things that are happening in our country He knows and He sees them. May God be merciful, we need proper leadership here and not fights. How do you want to leave this country for our children? In poverty as it is today? Jehovah God help us.