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High court judge appeals for improved funding
Solwezi, February 3, 2015, ZANIS– Kitwe High Court Judge Chilombo Maka Phiri has appealed to the government to adequately fund the Judiciary in order to facilitate the construction of modern subordinate courts and the establishment of a resident judge in Solwezi
Judge Phiri said this during the ceremonial official opening of criminal sessions of the High Court in Solwezi yesterday.
She disclosed that the Judiciary had in 2014 constructed four local courts in Mwinilunga, Chavuma, Kabompo, and Ikelenge districts.
She lamented that there are four local courts in the province operating without houses but added that construction and renovation of court buildings and houses for the whole country had since been approved in the 2015 budget.
Judge Phiri revealed that the Judiciary has embarked on computerization of the court system and real time High Court level reporting.
She said the Kitwe High Court which services North Western province was now fully computerized with two court reporters now stationed in Kitwe.
She commended the Judges in the province for ably handling 132 criminal cases that were filed at Solwezi High Court.
She observed that the high number of girls falling pregnant below the age of 16 years does not correlate with the low number of defilement cases in the courts of law.
And speaking at the same function, Provincial Minister Dawson Kafwaya directed the Prisons and Police command to ensure that sick remandees were immediately given medical attention.
He said reports of prison authorities refusing to attend to sick remandees cannot be tolerated.
Mr. Kafwaya said the government remained committed to improving the working environment of the courts adding that he was also aware of the shortage of office space at Solwezi subordinate court which only has two court rooms and four chambers against six magistrates.
ZANIS / HM/CSB/ENDS…………………………DRY
