Kabimba predicts continued democracy prevalence in Zambia

—-Justice Minister Winter Kabimba says Zambia shall remain a democracy for now and in the future in accordance with the will and aspirations of the people.

Mr Kabimba noted that in order to attain that, the judiciary must be an instrument of social change and move along to fulfill the aspirations of people.

He said this when he officially opened a two day annual conference for the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) held at Zambezi Sun in Livingstone.

The justice Minister said the Law Association of Zambia as a professional body advocates has played a very important role in guarding the tenets of the legal profession and the professional conduct of its individual members.

He explained that government believes in strong civil societies who are a group of consultative partners to the government in the execution of its mandate to serve the people.

He said it is government’s desire to exchange views with civil society movement which is intent on promoting a locally driven agenda for the good governance in line with the social conditions.

“Civil society stand in a position which is in contrast with opposition political parties and are not in a political power contestation with the PF and government” he said.

Meanwhile Mr Kabimba has noted that the justice system must also respond to the social and economic inequalities predicated on the social conditions of the society if it has to win the confidence of the citizens it serves.

“It is unjust if the poor continue to languish in prison because their records of appeal have gone missing out of no fault of theirs but the justice system itself”, he pointed out.

He added that as lawyers attending the conference they should be determined to promote civil liberties and the rule of law in the country.

And LAZ President James Banda said the legal practioners act needs to be amended and that lawyers should conduct themselves in a professional manner.