Maravi

Fr Miha calls for ‘serious funding’ to the judiciary

Fr Miha calls for ‘serious funding’ to the judiciary
By Ernest Chanda
Sun 09 Jan. 2011, 04:00 CAT

PEOPLE cannot expect justice from a judiciary that is not properly funded, says Father Miha Drevensek. Reacting to concerns raised last week by Chief Justice Ernest Sakala that the institution was poorly funded, Fr Miha who is also Mission Press director said the judiciary could not be independent under such circumstances.

He called for serious funding to the institution, saying that is where every aggrieved citizen runs to for justice.

“We heard it from the head of the judiciary, Chief Justice Ernest Sakala that justice is expensive. And he is right because for you to receive justice you have to invest in the institution that provides it. Under the current circumstance it is difficult to receive justice from a poorly funded judiciary,” Fr Miha said.

He said the country was making alot of money in the mines, part of which could have been channelled to the judiciary.

Fr Miha said the government should not demonise people who express concern over national matters.

“These are the things Col Panji Kaunda talked about. He mentioned the Electoral Commission of Zambia, the judiciary and many other institutions where things are not in order. And now it is coming from the Chief Justice himself. When people express concern any responsible government should pay attention and act accordingly,” Fr Miha said.

Speaking at the opening of the Lusaka High Court sessions for 2011, Justice Sakala said the judiciary's core function was adjudicating and that for it to perform efficiently and effectively, it needed a certain level of resources.

"Over the past few years, the trend has been that less than 80 per cent of the approved budget is released," he said. "This has no doubt negatively affected our projects and programmes and we have even been unable to fulfil the obligations relating to conditions of service of our support staff in terms of paying terminal benefits and other benefits. It is also defeating the very concept of an autonomous judiciary."

Justice Sakala pointed out that justice is not a cheap commodity anywhere.

Labels: JUDICIARY, MIHA DREVENSEK

posted by MrK @ 8:40 PM