Harrington renews court bid over Forest 27

FORMER Environment Minister, William Harrington, and an environmentalist Robert Chimambo have filed an application in the Court of Appeal to renew the judicial review seeking to challenge the decision by deputy chief justice to refuse to establish a tribunal against Lands Minister Jean Kapata regarding forest 27.

Lusaka High Court Judge Catherine Lombe Phiri on April 15, this year threw out the application on technicalities.c The Judge dismissed the application, stating that it fell below the required standard. But Mr Harrington in a fresh application, said he was not aware of the ruling dated April 15, 2020, as they were not served with any documents to the effect. In this matter, the Attorney General Likando Kalaluka is respondent.

Mr Harrington said he and Mr Chimambo only came to know about the ruling on the matter through the media.

This has prompted the two to file application in the Court of Appeal in order to be heard on the matter. Mr Harrington said they had been advised by the lawyers that the proper procedure when denied leave to commerce judicial review, was to renew the application before the Court of Appeal.

“I only recently became aware of the ruling of the 15 of April 2020 delivered by this honourable court, I now seek the indulgence of this honourable court to grant the applicants leave to renew the said application out of time,” Mr Harrington said.

Mr Harrington said he was of view that the tribunal should be appointed in order to address the illegalities in the forest 27.