PARLIAMENT RATIFIES 8 JUDGES’ APPOINTMENTS

…$4.5bn needed

PARLIAMENT has unanimously ratified President Edgar Lungu’s appointment of eight judges at the Constitution, Supreme, and Court of Appeal respectively.

This came to light when Chiengi Member of Parliament Given Katuta moved a motion to adopt the report of the Parliamentary Select Committee to scrutinise the Presidential appointment of Madam Justice Fulgency Mwenya Chisanga to serve as a judge of the Supreme Court, Madam Justice Judy Zulu Mulongoti, Mr Justice Mwila Chitabo, SC, and Mr Justice Mathew Kasonde Chisunka, to serve as judges of the Constitutional Court.

Others are Madam Justice Anessie Michael Banda-Bobo, Madam Justice Nicola Ann Sharpe-Phiri and Mr Kelvin Muzenga to serve as judges of the Court of Appeal, for the Fifth Session of the Twelfth National Assembly, laid on the Table of the House on Tuesday.

Seconding the motion, Rufunsa MP Sheal Mulyata commended the select committee for observing that all appointees are competent and experienced to serve.

Ms. Mulyata also commended the committee for ensuring that only those with qualifications are appointed.

Kabwe Central MP, Tutwa Ngulube observed that it is a good thing that all the appointees are going on promotion.

He urged the new judges to clear their tables before assuming their respective new roles.

Mr Ngulube also called on the Judiciary to ensure that when judges are promoted they are given enough time to clear work backlog, adding that there has been a lot of backlog in the Judiciary.

“Mr Speaker, I am also appealing to the Chief Justice to scrutinise the seating judges because the issue of backlogs is too much, as a result some people have lost hope when their matters will be settled,” he said.

Malambo MP Makebi Zulu said that the appointed judges stand out to be judges that one cannot question their previous judgement.

THE consortium selected to develop the Batoka Gorge Hydro Electric Scheme (BGHES), is facing difficulties sourcing $4.5 billion to start full implementation of the project, a source closer to the deal has revealed.

Power Construction Corporation of China and General Electric are in the consortium.

The project is being implemented by Zambia and Zimbabwe through the Zambezi River Authority (ZRA), and is expected generate 2400MW of hydroelectricity power to be shared equally.

According to thesource, despite conclusion of studies and commencement of start of preliminary works, the consortium was still not able to raise the necessary finances to put in the project.

"The truth of the matter is the two companies, General Electric and China’s Power China have still not found funds for the Batoka undertaking which may result in the project delaying for a long period of time," said the source who requested for anonymity.