Politics

Zambian president, Hichilema, vows Executive support for Judiciary, calls for responsive courts system

Published

2 years ago

November 29, 2022

Zambian President, Hakainde Hichilema has called for a responsive and accountable judiciary for an effective justice system.

The president made the call while speaking during the official opening of the judicial conference Livingstone.

He maintained that the Executive arm of Government remains committed to continuing support for the decentralisation process in the Judiciary and making it easily accessible to our citizens in rural communities.

“We appreciated the open and candid exchange of ideas aimed at strengthening the delivery of justice to our citizens, in a timely manner and within the enhanced rule of law coupled with transparency and accountability.

“There is a need for a collaborative approach with all concerned parties, in identifying the impediments to the speedy delivery of justice, by isolating oppressive and archaic laws in our statutes that need repealing, in order that they are in concert and relevant to modern times, so that ambiguities in the delivery of judgments are avoided at all costs.

“To us, the three arms of Government are triplets that should work in close liason, in improving the welfare of our citizens. The Judiciary should equally take a keen interest in economic matters and also ensure that public resources are used prudently, so as to improve their working conditions at all levels,” he said.

The Zambian judicial system comprises approximately 460 courts, arrayed, basically, in a hierarchy with four primary levels. At the base, stand 415 local courts, presided over by 8 senior presiding justices, and 407 presiding justices, assisted by 428 ordinary justices.

Related Topics:Featured Hakainde Hichilema Zambia

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

2 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.