By BRIAN HATYOKA –
. MAMBILIMA
CHIEF Justice Ireen Mambilima has praised President Edgar Lungu and the Patriotic Front (PF) Government for supporting and protecting the Judiciary.
Ms Justice Mambilima said the Judiciary was grateful to President Lungu and the Government for the steady and tireless support, as well as protection.
She said her office had been concerned with delays in disposing of cases, but she was glad that a number of interventions had been put in place such as the appointment of more judges and the establishment of more courts, especially the specialised divisions of the High Court and fast track courts.
Ms Justice Mambilima said this in Livingstone yesterday in a speech read for her by Lusaka High Court Judge Flugence Chisanga during the inaugural opening of the 2016 sessions of the Industrial Relations division of the High Court for Southern Province.
The Industrial Relations Court (IRC), which is now a division of the High Court under the amended Constitution, has been launched in Livingstone to handle industrial and other labour-related cases in the province.
This means that the people in Southern Province will no longer be required to go to Lusaka for industrial and labour-related matters.
The first circuit started in Livingstone yesterday, and the last one will commence on November 7, 2016 while each circuit session will be for a period of at least two weeks.
Ms Justice Mambilima said the first session in Livingstone symbolised the continued resolve in the implementation of the reforms in the Judiciary.
She urged the judges of the Industrial Relations Court to rise to the occasion and ensure the disposal of cases expeditiously despite the many challenges affecting the smooth operations of the Judiciary.
She said access to justice was one of the fundamental human rights, which the Judiciary was determined to uphold.
Ms Justice Mambilima also announced that plans were underway to construct a court building complex in Choma which would accommodate the High Court, subordinate courts and the small claims court. IRC Judge-in-Charge Martin Musaluke said the achievement of bringing justice closer to the people in Southern Province would only be met if all stakeholders came together.
