By ALICE NACHILEMBE
Zambia Council for Social Development (ZCSD) says citizens have the right to hold Judiciary Accountable.
ZCSD has noted the recent debate and counsel by the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) on the Supreme Court’s decision in the case of Savenda Management Services v Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited, Judgement No. 10 of 2018.
ZCSD Executive Director Lewis Mwape said the Constitution of Zambia in Article 118 clearly provides for a mechanism that makes Judges to be accountable to the people from whom the judiciary derives its power.
Mr Mwape said Citizens have the right to hold the judiciary and Supreme Court Judges to account for their decisions or omissions.
He said Zambians should not fall into the trap of creating a dictatorial judicial system which will not be accountable to the people
“While we may not have the hard facts with regard to the current case of Savenda Management vs Stanbic Bank Zambia Limited, the mere fact that allegations have been raised regarding the Honorable Justices on the Bench and some lawyers, it is only fair that they are provided an opportunity to clear their names,” he said.
Mr Mwape said ZCSD has joined other progressive Zambians in appealing to the Chief Justice, Madam Irene Mambilima to immediately constitute a Tribunal.
He said the allegations of impropriate against the Justices is already in the public domain and trying to bully citizens to remain silent about these allegations will only deepen public speculation.
Mr Mwape said that it is in the interest of both the Judiciary and the Law Association of Zambia to maintain the integrity of this very important institution by not insulating it against anything that would affect its integrity and sanctity.
He said that it is the duty of citizens to ensure that they defend the Constitution.
