AS the Judiciary weighs on opening the Courts to the public through the live broadcast of selected Court proceedings, Chief justice Mumba Malila has exercised his direction by allowing the National broadcaster to televise the eligibility judgement of former president Edgar Lungu.
On December 10, the Constitutional Court will settle the debate on whether or not Lungu can contest for presidency for the fourth time after having been sworn into office twice.
This is in a matter where a leader of the UNZA student movement Michelo Chizombe is questioning Lungu’s eligibility to contest future elections for presidency, after having exhausted the term limits for presidency.
For the first time in history since Zambia became a sovereign State, Court proceedings will be broadcast live, in assent to the advocacy by Journalists and stakeholders to live-stream court proceedings.
Following calls by Journalists and stakeholders to have the laws amended on the live broadcast of Court proceedings, Chief justice Mumba Malila in January 2022, committed to table the issue before the policy committee of the Judiciary for consideration.
The policy committee okayed his proposal and tasked the advisory committee on public relations to draft rules, which will serve as guideline to the media as they broadcast selected court proceedings.
Despite the development posing as the bright side of the advocacy, the live broadcast has been restricted to ZNBC while other media houses will stick to their outmoded style of informing the masses.
Confirming the development, Judiciary deputy director corporate communications Kalumba Chisambisha-Slavin, said the move was in line with the undertaking by the chief justice to consider the live broadcast of Court proceedings.
She described the move as a win for the media and stakeholders, in their appeal to have the Judiciary opened to the public for transparency, and commended them for their contribution towards the actualization of such a policy.
In an interview with Kalemba, Slavin said the guidelines for live broadcast to be set by the Judiciary, are still under consideration.
“So this is not a launch or a test for live broadcast, it’s in line with the understanding made by the chief justice and the pronouncement he made after a meeting with the policy committee,” said Slavin.
“The rules have been drafted, they are undergoing scrutiny. The chief justice had the discretion, you must remember that fact that it’s(live broadcast of the eligibility case) being done at the chief justice’s discretion.”
By Mwaka Ndawa
Kalemba
