.KABIMBA

By XAVIER MANCHISHI –

THE Tribunal set up to probe Justice Minister Wynter Kabimba’s alleged breach of oath of secrecy has submitted its report to President Michael Sata.
Chairperson of the Tribunal which sat for 45 days, Supreme Court judge Evans Hamaundu presented the report to the President at State House yesterday.
The President thanked acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda for appointing the Tribunal.
He said although the report was voluminous, he was going to study it.
“You are giving us the job of judges. Judges are the ones who read thick books. Anyway, thank you for the report.
“We are going to look at it with the help of Ms Jere (Justice Permanent Secretary Patricia Jere),” he said.
Ms Justice Chibesakunda appointed the Tribunal which had High Court judges Gertrude Chawatama and Justine Chashi as members.
The Tribunal was set up in response to Solwezi Central Member of Parliament Lucky Mulusa and human rights activist Brebnar Changala’s petition.
The two wanted the Tribunal to investigate whether Mr Kabimba had abused his office by using legal opinion rendered by Solicitor General Musa Mwenye to allegedly back up Patriotic Front cases attempting to block parliamentarians whose seats had been nullified by the Supreme Court for engaging in corrupt practices from re-contesting.
Speaking after the handover of the report, Mr Sata wondered why some people had continued calling for a people-driven Constitution as if the current document was an animal-driven Constitution.
“If you ask the most learned woman here, Madam Chibesakunda… you are always saying people-driven Constitution, people-driven constitution.
“Madam, where do you have an animal-driven Constitution? Is there any country that has an animal-driven Constitution?” he asked.
Earlier, the President swore in Martin Musaluke, Mathew Kasonde Chisunka, Egispo Mwansa and Winnie Sithole Mwenda as deputy chairpersons of the Industrial Relations Court.