Chief Justice Ernest Sakala today swore in twelve Adjudicators as commissioners for the Small Claims Court, which is situated near the Supreme Court in Lusaka.

Among those sworn in are Vice President George Kunda’s wife, Ireen, and Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) president Steven Lungu.

Chief Justice Sakala implored the commissioners to read and acquaint themselves with the Judicial Code of Conduct Act.
He expressed confidence that the commissioners would do well, especially that they possess the required qualifications and expertise for an Adjudicator of the Small Claims Court.

He reminded the commissioners to abide by the etiquette of a judicial officer in terms of the Judicial Code of Conduct Act No. 13 of 1999 as required by section 31A of the Small Claims Court Act No. 14 of 2008.

Chief Justice Sakala said the Small Claims Courts were under a pilot project in Lusaka and Ndola but would be opened in other parts of the country later.

Others sworn-in are LAZ Secretary Margaret Chalwe, former LAZ president William Mweemba, Annie Mwanza, James Banda, Nicole Phiri, Newton Mubonda, James Shonga Junior, Emmanuel Mwansa and Sydney Wataye.

ZANIS

The Southern African Centre for Constructive Resolution of Disputes (SACCORD) has commended the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) for removing seven of its members from the conference.

SACCORD Administration Manager, Theresa Chewe said the seven that were barred from the NCC deserved such treatment because they did not give an apology or reasonable explanation for their absenteeism.

Ms. Chewe urged the NCC to ensure that every members of the NCC who was absconding without any reasonable explanation was barred.

She said absconding from the NCC without any reasonable explanation meant breaching the NCC laws.

She said the barring of the seven people from the NCC would be a lesson from the would be offenders.

Ms. Chewe said delegates should understand that they were at NCC to debate national issues, which were important for the development of the country.

ZANIS

Public service workers in Choma have resolved to go on strike next Monday, June 1,2009, to press government to conclude long-awaited salary negotiations with their unions.

The government workers have also asked their national union leaders to resign from their positions if they have failed to represent them adequately in the on-going negotiations with their employer.

This is according to a joint statement released to ZANIS in Choma today by Civil Servants and Allied Workers’ Union of Zambia branch Secretary, Peter Phiri, and National Union of Public Service Workers branch chairperson Macford Chiboola.

The two union leaders said their members have noted with regret the way government has been using delaying tactics in the on-going negotiations for improved salaries and conditions of service.

They said this is a breach of the Industrial and Labour Relations Act CAP 269 which stipulates the time limit in which the negotiations are supposed to be concluded.

The unions have demanded that government should consider giving a block figure in awarding increments and not percentages.

The civil servants are demanding not less than K 450,000 across the board as salary increment with not less than K 400,000 as housing allowance, adding that all outstanding housing allowance arrears must be cleared not later than June 30, 2009.

Teachers in the district have been on go slow since May 18.

ZANIS

A 35 year old woman of new Mushili compound in Ndola, yesterday fainted in Serenje magistrate court when magistrate Philip Chisenga sentenced her to two years simple imprisonment for unlawful possession of psychotropic substance namely, dagga.

Before Mr. Chisenga were Loveness Nyama 44 of house number 1976 new Mushili compound who was charged with one count of unlawful possession of government trophy and Marjory Chibale also of Mushili compound who was charged with two counts.

Chibale was charged with unlawful possession of government trophy and in the second count was charged with unlawful possession of dagga.[quote]

The two were arrested on Monday this week by Zambia wildlife authority (ZAWA) officers at Kanona check point along great North Road in Serenje when they were traveling from Mpika to Ndola on Checha bus registration number ABC 7292.

According to the facts ready by ZAWA prosecutor Henry Munalula, Nyama and Chibale were found with seven pieces of buffalo meat each in their traveler’s bags.

Chibale, who tried holding back her tears throughout the session, had also 3.4kg of dagga wrapped in a transparent plastic bag in the second count which she told the court she was to use it to treat her hair.

In mitigation, Nyama pleaded for leniency because she had eight children including two orphans and that all of them were school going and if she was jailed nobody would take care of them.

He fined both K900,000 in default six months simple imprisonment in the first count of unlawful possession of government trophy.

Mr. Chisenga sentenced Chibale to two years imprisonment for being found in possession of psycho tropical substance.

Just upon pronouncement of the sentence, Chibale fell on to the chair that was behind and shouted “My Jesus” and openly wept before Mr. Chisenga.

Chibale, who later gained strength, was picked by Nyama and a DEC officer who helped her walk up to the police inquiries.

ZANIS

Former Council Secretary Rodger Musonda has been jailed for two years for corrupt practices and forgery.

Musonda, was yesterday 27th May, 2009 convicted and sentenced to jail by Mkushi Magistrate Betty Malupenga.

The sentences will run concurrently with effect from 27th May, 2009 and Musonda has since been imprisoned at Mkushi State Prison.

The Anti Corruption Commission (ACC) spokesperson Timothy Moono said this in a statement yesterday.

Musonda who was facing six counts before magistrate Malupenga, was convicted on two counts of forgery contrary to Section 342 and 347 of the Penal Code and sentenced to two years imprisonment on each count.

Further, Musonda was convicted on three counts of Abuse of Authority of Office contrary to Section 37 (2) of the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) Act and sentenced to one year and six months imprisonment with hard labour on each count.

Musonda was arrested by the Anti Corruption Commission in 2008 and charged with two counts of forgery and four counts of Abuse of Authority of Office.

In the first count, details are that Musonda stood charged with forgery of Minutes of the Special Plans, Works, Water Sanitation Committee in which he had purported that the Committee did meet on 20th September, 2006 when in fact it did not meet. As a result of the forged minutes plots were offered to among other people, himself and his wife Artress Musonda.

In the second count, Musonda stood charged with forgery of minutes of the Special Finance and General Purposes Committee in which case he had purported that the Committee did meet on 15th September 2006 when in fact it did not.

As a result of the forged minutes loans were given to, among other people, himself.

In the third count, Musonda stood charged with abuse of authority of office for giving himself an additional loan of K10million without approval from the Special Finance and General Purposes Committee. He gave himself the loan on the basis of the forged minutes already mention in Court Two above.

In the fourth count, Musonda stood charged with abuse of authority of office for offering plots to, among other people, himself and his wife Artress Musonda at a time when the Ministry of Lands had withdrawn the Land Agency from Mkushi District Council. He offered the plots on the basis of the forged minutes already mentioned in Court Two above.

In the fifth count, Musonda stood charged with abuse of office for applying to himself and personally approving for himself an additional loan of K5million without the Special Finance and General Purposes Committee’s approval or the approval of the Council Chairman.

Magistrate Malupenga found Musonda guilty on the above-mentioned five (5) counts and but acquitted him on the sixth count.
ZANIS