A Lufwanyama based lawyer Fairchild Fundanga has bemoaned the dilapidated state of the local courts in the area.
Mr. Fundanga told ZANIS that some residents are shunning to take judicial complaints due to the dilapidated state of the courts.
He said even though proceedings are conducted in these courts, the structures pose serious danger to the lives of the public and the court employees as they can collapse any time especially now that the rain season has begun.
He appealed to government through the ministry of Justice to rehabilitate the court infrastructure before a calamity is experienced.
He said the rehabilitation of the courts will also enhance delivery of justice to the public as suspected criminals and other civil offenders will be prosecuted.
Mr. Fundanga also appealed to government to recruit more court presiding officers to the district as the current officers manning the courts are not enough to handle the overwhelming criminal cases in the district.
He said the insufficient number of prosecuting offices at the courts makes criminal cases to take too long to be prosecuted which in some cases lead to distortion of the needed evidence.
ZANIS
Fiarchild Fundanga > I guess this BOZ Govonr’s young brother. That aside, there is need for this area to be looked into. However those shunning to attend court sessions on account of poor state of buildings are not being serious. Sessions can be held even under a tree.
What is a ‘lawyer’ doing in Local courts? Thought lawyers had no audience and mandate in Local Couts unless otherwise. Has the law changed now in Zambia or the learned colleague is living the ‘unless otherwise’?