YALI calls on Mambilima to put judiciary in order

YALI Governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza

The Young African Leaders Initiative (YALI) has called on Chief Justice Irene Mambilima to put her house in order and ensure that judicial officers are not used for political reasons.

The YALI has also called on the Judges both from the Supreme Court and High Court to avoid unnecessarily or give special preference to cases they want to quickly dispose at the expense of those that have been in court for a long time.

YALI governance Advisor Isaac Mwanza says his organization welcomes the late ruling of the Supreme Court in the case involving the eligibility of three former Members of Parliament on whether they can re-contest their seats.

Mr. Mwanza has however bemoaned the fact that the Supreme Court delayed in making the decision that was so straightforward as compared to other political cases which went before them in the running up to the last Presidential elections invoking intra party wrangles in the PF and MMD.

Mr. Mwanza believes that although the late ruling in the Supreme Court has set a precedent in this matter, he feels the law was very clear as regards how one can be barred from re-contesting elections and the High Court Registrar was abused for political expediency by the ruling PF who wanted to bar the 3 former Members of Parliament.

He says this kind of judicial interference is regrettable and must never be allowed to repeat itself in the area of promoting democratic governance and separation of powers.

The YALI Governance Advisor was speaking in an interview with QFM News.