New High and Supreme Court judges urged to help clear case backlog

PRESIDENT Michael Sata has directed High Court and Supreme Court judges to uphold high levels of integrity and help clear the backlog of cases in the country’s justice system.
He said during a swearing-in ceremony for two Supreme Court and five High Court judges at State House in Lusaka yesterday that members of the bar should uphold maximum levels of integrity both in and outside their courtrooms.
Those sworn in were Justices Evans Hamaundu and Albert Wood, as Supreme Court judges, while Justices Charles Chanda, William Mweemba, Betty Majula-Mung’omba, Mwila Chitabo and Chilombo Maka-Phiri were sworn in as High Court judges.
Mr Sata said the judges should always show exemplary behaviour even in the way they carried themselves so that society could look up to them for inspiration.
“My biggest worry is the backlog of cases in the courts you have been appointed to. Please assist the Chief Justice to reduce the backlog of cases from our courts,” Mr Sata said.
He said as a person who had been in a court of law before, he understood the agony of waiting for unnecessarily too long for a trial court to dispose of cases.
Mr Sata also said he wanted to swear in more female judges.
“Madam Chief Justice, I want to swear in more women judges because they are more exemplary and presentable than men,” said Mr Sata, who was in a jovial mood and cracked jokes with the judges and others who attended the ceremony.
Last month, Parliament unanimously ratified the appointment of the two Supreme Court judges and five High Court judges.
Patriotic Front Chama South Member of Parliament (MP) Effron Lungu, who moved the motion of the Parliamentary Select Committee, said the nominees were interviewed and qualified to hold the positions since they had vast experience in the judiciary.
Dr Lungu said the committee found that all the nominees had the minimum qualifications prescribed in the Constitution of Zambia to qualify to be appointed as High Court and Supreme Court judge.
In supporting the appointments, United Party for National Development Monze Central
MP Jack Mwiimbu said the nominees were of good standing and were admitted to the bar a long time ago.