Judicial reforms start with constitution, says Storella

Judicial reforms start with constitution, says Storella
By Moses Kuwema
Wed 06 June 2012, 13:24 CAT

US Ambassador to Zambia Mark Storella says judicial reforms require finding ways of ensuring that all three arms of government have independent roles. And Ambassador Storella says it is important for young people to debate and understand the current constitution-making process. Speaking to journalists on Monday, Ambassador Storella said judicial reforms had not really taken off in the country.

"The most important part of that reform will actually be the constitution and the elements in the constitution that try to support an independent, highly professional, functioning Judiciary. I think that reform requires finding ways to ensure that all three of the branches of government can have independent roles that create a way that everybody is watching one another. We call that in the US checks and balances," he said.

Ambassador Storella said the American constitution was not based on the view that human beings were angels, but based on the idea that they were not and could, therefore, make mistakes.

And Ambassador Storella said Zambians should be involved in the constitution-making process.

He said the process, as it is laid out, gives an opportunity for civil society and other people to play a part in discussing and debating it.

"I think it is especially important to see young people to debate and understand this constitution, they are the ones for whom this constitution is going to matter. I always tell people, including all the senior officials in the Zambian government, you are not writing a constitution for yourself, you are writing it for your children and your grandchildren and you really have to think about the future of these people," said Ambassador Storella.