By STEVEN ZANDE –
GOVERNMENT has said it is working hard to operationalise the Constitutional Court, which should be ready before the August elections.
High Court Registrar Mathews Zulu said the Judiciary was working hard and had so far completed the Constitutional registry, which is currently sitting at the High Court.
In an interview yesterday, Mr Zulu said the Constitutional Court would be operational before the 2016 general elections to address all queries from the amended Constitution.
“We are working round the clock to ensure that we operationalise the Constitution Court. There are a lot of things that are being done simultaneously, so that we put in place this court in good time, and yes the court will be ready before this year’s general election,” Mr Zulu said.
He said the process of establishing such a court was huge, but said that Chief Justice Irene Mambilima has constituted an internal committee of Judges, administrative workers, officers and a senior manager to oversee the process, which would involve drafting rules to guide the operations of the court to avoid misunderstandings.
He said that the austerity measures introduced by Government to cut spending would not impede the process because President Edgar Lungu made it clear that the court should be implemented as soon as possible.
Mr Zulu said among other things the Constitutional Court would be responsible for, was interpreting the Constitution, handling election petitions, and dealing with complaints from individuals regarding the Constitution.
He said the Court would comprise of the Constitutional Court president, his vice and eleven judges, adding that the Judicial Service Commission is in now recruiting judges to preside over the court.
The decisions made in court would be the final court of appeal meaning judgments passed by the Constitutional Court Justice would not be appealed against elsewhere.
Mr Zulu said stakeholders and members of the public should be patient as the Judiciary would issue a statement when all the work is completed.
Meanwhile, Mr Zulu said the Tribunal instituted to probe suspended Director of Public Prosecution (DPP) Mutembo Nchito would resume soon and the proceedings would be held in camera with the original panel of judges.
He said the Judiciary was determined to conduct the proceedings in a quiet and efficient manner, while the public would be updated on the findings.