By CHATULA KANGALI –

UNIONISED Judicial workers in Ndola are up in arms against High Court Deputy Registrar Kelvin Limbani for allegedly beating up a fellow member of staff at the work place.
Mr Limbali is alleged to have slapped Mathews Mupeta, a general worker at the Ndola High court after he failed to follow his instruction on Tuesday this week.
Unionised workers from other courts, after hearing news of the beating, downed tools and gathered at the high court building to express their grievances.
The workers alleged that some senior court officials and a named magistrate were in the habit of intimidating and insulting workers.
“Some senior court officials have continued to insult us even in the presence of our clients. We have been intimidated in many ways. We are all workers and we need to respect one another,” one of the workers said.
Judicial and Allied Workers Union of Zambia (JAWUZ) vice-president Michael Msoni said he had been hearing reports about how workers in courts, especially at the high court in Ndola have been intimidated.
Mr Msoni expressed disappointment with the manner in which the deputy registrar conducted himself to solve a problem.
“It is very sad and unlawful for Mr Limbani to beat a worker. As a union, we are not going to tolerate beating of workers at the workplace. We want people to work in a free atmosphere. Beating or any form of intimidation and insults will not be tolerated at the workplace,” he said.
Mr Msoni said the issue was tabled with Judge-in-charge Jane Kabuka and the union would dialogue with management to sort out problems court workers faced.
He, however, urged workers to remain calm and continue working.
JAWUZ Copperbelt chairperson Paul Chilosha said the victim had reported the case to the police and a medical report was issued.