Recruit more judges for ConCourt – Green Party

Fri, 16 Dec 2016 09:58:37 +0000

By KELVIN SIABANA

GOVERNMENT should urgently consider appointing more judges to the Constitutional Court, says Green Party president Peter Sinkamba.

Mr Sinkamba said his party was concerned with the small number of judges serving on the Constitutional Court bench.

Under Article 127 of the Constitution, the court can have up to 13 judges.

He said, however, since its inception early this year, only six judges had been appointed to serve on the bench.

Mr Sinkamba said under the Constitution, the Constitutional Court should have a president and deputy president as well as 11 or more judges.

“One of the key principles established by the Constitution of Zambia in Article 118(2), which guides judicial authority for our courts, to protect and promote the values and principles of the Constitution, is that justice must not be delayed.” said Mr Sinkamba.

He said  Article 141(1) of the Constitution required that only lawyers that have served for at least 15 years and have specialised training or experience in human rights or constitutional law should serve on the bench of the Constitutional Court.

Mr Sinkamba said the Green Party supported the continued development and strengthening of international human rights standards in Zambia.

“We urge President Lungu to extend the catchment area of recruitment for Constitutional Court judges to cover the Commonwealth, especially the United Kingdom and India, because he is not restricted to do so by the Constitution,” said Mr Sinkamba.

The opposition leader said the appointment of neutral judges from other parts of the Commonwealth to fill up vacancies on the ConCourt would be most ideal.