Tribunal sittings start June 28

mbia by mitia on 6/18/13

By DELPHINE ZULU and PERPETUAL SICHIKWENKWE –
CHAIRPERSON of the tribunal set up to probe the alleged professional misconduct of three judges, Lovemore Chikopa yesterday ruled that the panel will go ahead to hear allegations levelled against Supreme Court Judge Philip Musonda.
Mr Justice Chikopa said the tribunal would commence sittings on June 28, this year to hear allegations levelled against Justice Musonda.
This was after Justice Musonda’s lawyer Milner Katolo informed Mr Justice Chikopa that his client had been given sick leave for 10 days, from June 17 to June 27.
Mr Justice Chikopa announced that the panel would start sitting on June 28, this year.
He said this yesterday when he briefed interested parties as well as the media and assured that his team would conduct an open, fair and impartial inquiry to the advantage of all parties involved.
Mr Justice Chikopa, who sat with retired judges Naboth Mwanza and Thomas Ndhlovu, announced the official commencement of the tribunal against Justice Musonda yesterday after he ruled that the tribunal would go ahead to hear allegations against him.
He told the audience gathered at Government Complex building that the tribunal had jurisdiction to hear the allegations because Justice Musonda had not yet resigned but only asked to be retired in national interest.
High Court judges Nigel Mutuna and Charles Kajimanga would not be part of the hearing as they had been granted a stay and judicial review to challenge the legality of the tribunal.
Mr Justice Chikopa also urged the media to report objectively.
And Justice Musonda yesterday resigned from his position as Supreme Court judge.
He said his resignation was pursuant to Article 137 of the Constitution which conferred upon him a constitutional right to resign from his office at any time whether before or during the course of an inquiry.
In his resignation letter to the acting Chief Justice dated June 18, 2013, Justice Musonda said the step taken meant that he had ceased to enjoy the privileges of the office of the Supreme Court.
He said his resignation was not intended to insulate himself from any in