Maravi

Judicial Complaints Authority's not being felt.

Judicial Complaints Authority's not being felt.
By Kombe Chimpinde
Sat 30 June 2012, 13:24 CAT

JUSTICE minister Sebastian Zulu says the impact of the Judicial Complaints Authority is not being felt.

Speaking when he launched the Authority's Strategic Plan for 2012-2016 yesterday, Zulu said the Judicial Complaints Authority which was a vital part of the judiciary which was mandated to spearhead professional conduct among judicial officers brought to them by the public.

Zulu, however, acknowledged the logistical challenges faced by the institution established by an Act of Parliament through the Judicial Code of Conduct Act.

Judicial Complaints Authority is a body established by the Judicial Code of Conduct Act number 13 of 1999 as amended by the judicial code of conduct amendment Act number 13 of 2006.

The institution's mandate is to regulate the conduct of the entire adjudicator through investigation of allegations of non-impeccable misconduct in a bid to promote professionalism, among others things.

Authority chairperson Professor Patrick Mvunga some of the challenges that were currently affecting the operations of the body in the last five years were failure to address the lacunars in the neighboring Act, in which the institution has proposed necessary amendments.

Professor Mvunga also said the body required enforcement powers to monitor and ensure its findings and recommendations submitted to the authority are judiciously implemented as well as funding of at least K7 billion.

And in an interview, Zulu said the PF government will not appoint retired judges or those due for retirement on contract.

His remarks come in the wake of calls by the opposition that the recent appointment of justice Lombe Chibesa-Kunda was unconstitutional as she was above the stipulated age of 65.

"You see in the ministry, now we are discouraging judges being put on contract after retirement because that tends to compromise their position. That is our policy that if somebody has retired we don't give them a contract…," he said.

Zulu said there was no need to speculate on the matter as the appointment was substantive.

"Since they are acting appointments, there will be no need for Parliament to ratify them…," said Zulu.

Labels: JUDICIARY

posted by MrK @ 12:12 AM