Maravi

Lack of trust in justice system worries AWOMIZ

Lack of trust in justice system worries AWOMIZ
Written by Masuzyo Chakwe
Friday, July 24, 2009 3:04:49 PM

THE African Women Millennium Initiative on Poverty and Human Rights in Zambia (AWOMIZ) has expressed concern that Zambia's justice and rights-based institutions are being questioned by citizens and the international community.
AWOMIZ stated that they wanted to see Zambia upholding freedom of the press, association and expression, ensure women and children's rights were protected and upheld.

They stated that they also wanted to see poverty eradicated up to the village level, women participate equally in national development and entrenchment of the rule of law and principles of good governance.

"We therefore are saddened by lack of tolerance for each other in our nation. It must be appreciated by all concerned citizens in Zambia that the current state of affairs in our nation which begs an answer is negatively affecting the most vulnerable members in our society which include the elderly, women, the differently-abled, youths and children," they stated.

The women expressed concern over the recent strikes by the health workers, university lecturers and teachers, which were not properly resolved.

"We are concerned that elderly women being accused of being witches ending in the death of one of them, are not being protected, that women dying in police custody, women being raped, children being defiled and raped, citizens being carried on wheel burrows to health institutions, women delivering at bus stations and in the streets, women being raped in police custody and most recently, reports of women giving birth in prisons is falling in deaf ears," they stated.

They expressed concern on the increasing levels of corruption, lack of prudent use of resources by the government and a clear-cut strategy to mobilise and manage public resource in the face of the global financial crisis and the withdrawal of support to the health sector.

The women expressed concern that the cooperating partners had withdrawn financial support to the health sector and that this move would affect the delivery of health services to the vulnerable people in society especially in the area of reproductive health services, HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.

"Interestingly and sadly too, instead of providing solutions to all these issues we have raised the country has diverted its attention from these important issues to trivial and personal vendettas," they stated.

They stated that it was also surprising that institutions that were supposed to uphold the rule of law acted quickly on the issues of pictures leading to the arrest of Post news editor Chansa Kabwela but never reacted in matters of national interest, which had been repeatedly brought to the attention of the government.

The women stated that apart from the Human Rights Commission, there had not been any statements from any institutions nor had they been informed of government's position on the violation of women's rights such as the mistreatment of women accused as witches, women giving birth in prison, an urgent move to table the anti-domestic violence bill to Parliament.

"We have observed that the real issues begging answers are swept under the carpet. We would like to remind Zambians that we need to make our leaders accountable. For example, why had government kept mute over the request and representations by many organisations and concerned citizens about the decision to pay midterm gratuity to its members of parliament and yet it is common knowledge that there are people in Zambia who were retired or left employment many years have not been paid their terminal benefits or gratuity," they stated "Unfortunately some individuals have even died without getting their payments. Is it morally correct that government had suddenly found money to pay members of parliament and yet they have failed to find money for those individuals who left employment many years ago? It looks like there is money in Zambia for the leaders and not those being led. One wonders why those who put these leaders in office must be treated unfairly."

They stated that the government must provide the nation with a timeframe for the National Constitutional Conference (NCC) so that some resources could be leveraged and used in important sectors such as health, education and infrastructure development instead of giving these resources to the already privileged few.

The women stated that they would like to see the police work professionally.

They stated that it was very frustrating to see an institution react only when an instruction was given from State House.

They wondered where the rights and privileges as Zambians were.

The women appealed that the rule of law prevails, systems regarding accountability and transparency be put in place as a matter or urgency, the strategy for resource mobilisation and prudent management of resources be announced to the nation and justice for all must prevail.

They stated that in this regard, the real issue regarding the purported pornographic picture be addressed.

"Namely the provision and access to social services is the issue at stake and not what the whole issues has degenerated into. One thing we should realise is that in a country where maternal deaths are extremely high even when the health institutions are operating normally, more women die when the operations of the health institutions are at a halt. Therefore, the continued debate on the photographs of the woman while in labour should not have arisen at all should have the rule of law, accountability and transparency, prudent management and use of resources had been exercised in the first place," they stated.

AWOMIZ is headed by Professor Nkandu Luo as chairperson, Matrine Chuulu as vice-chairperson and human rights commissioner, Veronica Machungwa as secretary, Namakau Kaingu as publicity secretary and wealth creation commissioner, Grace Manyonga as politics and governance commissioner, Margaret Kapihya as socio cultural commissioner, Joyce Nonde-Simukoko as trustee and Mary Mutupa as coordinator.

Labels: AWOMIZ, COURTS

posted by MrK @ 2:05 PM