Maravi

Girasoli advises against selective justice delivery

Girasoli advises against selective justice delivery
By Masuzyo Chakwe
Fri 30 Dec. 2011, 13:58 CAT

ZAMBIA still has a long way to go in ensuring equality of all citizens before the law, says Archbishop Nicola Girasoli.

In an interview, Archbishop Girasoli the outgoing Vatican Ambassador to Zambia, said equality of all citizens before the law was an aspect that needed urgent attention in the country.

He said during his six-year tenure in Zambia, he had visited prisons and most cases for people in remand were not even considered.

Archbishop Girasoli said this situation needed to be addressed because prisons were overcrowded.

He said there was fear and sensation that if a person did not have a good lawyer, his or her case would never be solved.

"And unfortunately, people who have never been involved in any kind of judiciary process don't feel this problem but I have seen a very large part of society, a very much strong demand for this equality," he said.

Archbishop Girasoli said there was need to improve the image of the judiciary in the country.

"It's only those with money that have good access to justice and we have thousands of people who have cases that have not been dealt with, with some of them in prison while those with money are free on bail. But also in the civil judiciary system, there are a lot of people that really don't see their cases solved. When they start a case, maybe it may take years. Equality before the law is a very strong human right because this is what protects the minority. If you don't feel equal before the law, you are second-class citizens," Archbishop Girasoli said.

He said he had often raised the issue of equality before the law but it did not receive the required attention.

Archbishop Girasoli hoped that the judicial system in the country could be improved by, among other things, appointing enough judges and having rights incorporated in the new constitution.

Labels: JUDICIARY, NICOLA GIRASOLI, PRISONS

posted by MrK @ 5:29 PM