Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) Board chairperson Mahamba Chiputa said access to legal representation by poor and vulnerable citizens is another human rights concern as it is a huge challenge which should be addressed quickly.
The Pan African Radio Journalist Hermit Hachilonde reports that Mr. Chiputa said majority Zambians are struggling to find justice owing to the fact that they are unable to hire expensive lawyers to represent them, affirming that this has deprived many poor citizens of their right to legal representation.
“Access to legal representation by poor and vulnerable in Zambia is another human rights concern as it is a huge challenge which should be addressed quickly” Mr. Chiputa said
And Justice Minister Given Lubinda has applauded the civil society organizations (CSOs) for the checks and balances they offer to Government regarding the safeguard of human rights in Zambia.
Mr. Lubinda said Government alone without scrutiny of the civil society organizations cannot present a truthful national report to the Human Rights Council (HRC).
Speaking today during the Civil Society Organizations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) Consultative Meeting at Lusaka’s Kwithu Lodge, the Minister said CSOs play a critical role in contributing to the observance and upholding of human rights.
Mr. Lubinda noted that government’s collaboration with various stakeholders is vital in ensuring that the National Reports which Zambia submits to the Human Rights Council (HRC) are accurate and reflect the true reality of the fulfillment of her human rights obligations under various treaties.
“Government alone without scrutiny of the civil society organizations cannot present a truthful national report to the Human Rights Council” Mr. Lubinda said
Meanwhile,
There are lawyers employed in the Legal Aid Dept but they prove very difficult to assist for “mahala “. The system is there but it’s not working because of the attitude.
Its not only the poor, even the opposition political parties are not spared to be represented.
To date is the UPND presidential petition that has never been heard by the con~court with PFudges violating the rights to be fairly heard.
Without the presidential petition being heard, PF remains illegally in power by criminality failures of not following the constitution. Zambia stays a member of ICC.
The Skeleton Key
~206~
@Ndanje Khakis You’re right the system is there but people don’t know about it, and the lawyers are very willing to help the poor.
In Zambia where judicial systems are corrupt you can’t win with a legal aid lawyer unless there is expected award of huge amount of damages. Then the legal aid lawyer may risk his private resources to corrupt judges in anticipation of recovering from awarded damages. If it is criminal case or civil case or any other case with no prospects of award of damages, no one can risk. In a case of Zambia, the only solution is for people to attain basic education to defend themselves like Gen. Godfrey Miyanda or buy legal aid insurance in order to afford good mature lawyers like Eric Silwamba, Sakwiba Sikota, Vincent Malambo, Patric Mvunga, etc.
Even the Catholic paralegal which used to help has gone to sleep.