Judiciary staff want Chief Justice Sakala out

Judiciary staff want Chief Justice Sakala out
By Roy Habaalu
Mon 21 May 2012, 12:40 CAT

JUDICIAL and Allied Workers Union of Zambia president Peter Mwale says Chief Justice Ernest Sakala's resignation is unavoidable.

Briefing journalists in Lusaka yesterday, Mwale said Zambia desired a judiciary that was not dented or justifiably perceived negatively by the general public.
He said the Judiciary was currently being labelled as corrupt by Zambians, and members of the Judiciary should not live in denial.

Mwale said the public calls for justice Sakala to resign were overwhelming.
"It's indisputable that the Judiciary has to be clear on these allegations and obviously we can't clear ourselves, we need help and it's certain that this help shall only come via the executive arm of government.

We are convinced that this Executive intervention can only come through comprehensive judicial reforms. That's why as a union, we strongly feel that judicial reforms and the resignation of the head of the Judiciary, His Lordship the Chief Justice Mr Ernest Sakala are unavoidable at this point of our history," he said.

"We should not be in denial. This Judiciary is finished. It's gone in so far as public perception is concerned. Members of the public think lowly of the Judiciary and its officers thereof. The fact of the matter is that the public view the Judiciary as a high-handed or autocratic corrupt institution whose main objective is self-preservation. Surely no employee can serve such an institution with commitment and vitality."

Mwale said there was need for judicial reforms.
He said justice Sakala had done his part and it was now time for him to take a back seat and allow comprehensive reforms to take place in the Judiciary.
He said judicial reforms in Zambia were a must and the nation would only have meaningful reforms with a new face as head of the bench.

Mwale said Judiciary employees were tired and demotivated due to numerous allegations of corruption within the institution that had arisen.

"As workers we want to work for judges and with judges who will be well-regarded by society. The truth is we can't be respected as an institution if we are refusing to be scrutinised. Let's not behave like a secret society by resisting checks and balances. We should all be accountable to the Zambian people. If politicians who are elected officers can submit to accountability and transparency, what about the Judiciary?" he wondered.

Mwale advised judges not to be misled by people who presided over similar situations in the past.

"Some of these so-called senior lawyers we see frequenting our corridors and judges' chambers, pretending to be defenders of the Judiciary are not genuine. Theirs is a self-serving mission. They represent no one but their ego, so be warned," he said.

He said the Judiciary was unhinged and Zambians could vividly see it in the frantic propaganda claims by certain 'injudicious' and hired elements.
Mwale said given the debate surrounding the Judiciary, there was no better person to provide a truthful outlook on the matter than judicial workers.

He said it was common knowledge that the Judiciary was confronted with numerous allegations of corruption and misconduct and as judicial workers they refused to live in a fantasy world.

On Friday, Chongwe PF member of parliament Sylvia Masebo called for justice Sakala's resignation because of alleged corruption in the Judiciary.

On Saturday, Nkana PF member of parliament Luxon Kazabu said justice Sakala would not only be saving the image of the Judiciary by resigning but also his own integrity which had been called into question.

Kazabu said reforming the Judiciary had become very urgent and it should start with the removal of justice Sakala.