WE all witnessed the praise towards Finance Minister Alexander Chikwanda for announcing Government’s withdrawal of Statutory Instruments 33 and 55.
However, the topical issue at hand is the need to find a solution to delays in our justice system because there is a backlog of cases in our courts awaiting disposal.
There is congestion in the prisons as a result of some citizens waiting for justice to be handed down. Among them are surely innocent citizens languishing because of delayed justice.
I appeal to the Government and the Law Association of Zambia to urgently work together and compel all law firms not to operate as if they have less than 10 practising lawyers.
No case should be allowed to be adjourned in any court on account that a defending or prosecuting lawyer is attending to a case in a higher court.
Penalties should be introduced against lawyers that apply for adjournments on grounds of “had no enough time to study case or similar flimsy excuses”. We have too many one-man law firms which exist for self-interest and not for clients. Some lawyers only look through the case file outside the court, and on many occasions also meet and consult their clients hurriedly there-and-then.
Concerned Senior Citizen,
Livingstone
