BY CYNTHIA NKHATA
Transparency International Zambia has launched Service Charters meant to increase easier access to justice among citizens.
The charters launched on Thursday 2nd September, 2021 by Acting Chief Justice State Counsel (SC) Justice Michael Musonda are a second phase to a similar access to justice category for lower courts launched by former Chief Justice, the late Irene Chirwa-Mambilima in 2019.
Speaking at the launch TIZ Vice Chairperson Dr. Annie Chewe explained from the outset that the initiative is in line with Transparency International Zambia’s mandate of advocating for good governance in private and public institutions.
Dr. Chewe observed that as all sectors of the economy are adversely affected by poor or lack of access, the launched documents are designed to overcome the noted handicap.
Dr. Chewe is worried that by January 2021, incidence of corruption in Zambia had not reduced as indicated in the Auditor General (AG) and the Financial Intelligence Centre (FIC) report.
“TIZ calls for interventions to systematic kick action to address the corruption problem. The Service Charters will address judiciary and non-judiciary personal, as it will help with improvement of the judicial system, acting as a social contract for its clients and personnel. The Charters will play an important role in Local Courts, Supreme Court and Magistrate Courts. In the past, we have launched other service charters, and urge the judiciary to root out all forms of corruption,” Dr. Chewe prayed.
And Justice Jones Chinyama said the Coronavirus burden delayed production of the Supreme Court Charters.
“The Judiciary wants more collaborators to come through and help distributing the service charters,” advised Justice Chinyama.
Launching the higher courts charters, the Acting Head of the Zambian Judiciary, Justice Musonda reiterated the need for an independent and corruption free system.
