Maravi

Judiciary should explain its decisions - magistrate

Judiciary should explain its decisions - magistrate
By Christopher Miti in Chipata
Sun 24 June 2012, 13:28 CAT

THE Judiciary should always balance its scale and explain how it arrives at certain decisions, says a Chipata magistrate.

Speaking when Eastern Province permanent secretary Hlobotha Nkunika toured the Judiciary stand during the Public Service Day on Friday, magistrate Malawo Kunda said courts had a crucial role to interpret the law and do justice. He said the Judiciary had a duty to dispense justice in a transparent manner.

He said the Judiciary should always ensure that it was accessible to members of the public and that it should promote the rule of law.

"When everyone comes before the court, we have to deal with them as human beings, regardless of their positions because everyone who comes before the court is innocent before being proven guilty. If the parties present a civil matter, the courts have to hear both sides, rule of natural justice, before making a ruling," magistrate Kunda said.

He said the Judiciary should always balance its scale and explain how it arrives at certain decisions.

Magistrate Kunda said the society should be safe for everyone to live in.
He said people were free to consult the Judiciary on legal matters because ignorance of the law had no defence.

"The general perception is that some members of the public are afraid to come to court and when they come to court they sometimes fail to speak, but we are encouraging the people to be free when they are before the courts of law," Magistrate Kunda said.

And Eastern Province prisons deputy commanding officer Namataa Mayumbelo said the service was embracing to a wider way of rehabilitating prisoners through education.

Mayumbelo said offers literacy classes to some prisoners while others start from the grades they dropped from.

She said some prisoners complete their prison terms with diplomas and some trade certificates.

"Last year, we had eight inmates who acquired some trade certificates in carpentry and joinery; then we had five who acquired trade certificates in bricklaying. This helps them when they finish their terms," said Mayumbelo.

Labels: JUDICIARY

posted by MrK @ 4:00 PM