IT’S an open secret in Zambia today that the Judiciary is viewed as one of the most corrupt institutions, second only to the Zambia Police, Gregory Cifire has alleged.

Cifire, a Lusaka resident, noted that in the recent past, the country had seen questionable decisions made by honourable justices when the court was supposed to be a defender of societal morals and the weak.

He further lamented that numerous reports of corruption involving Judicial officers had been heard “but unfortunately nothing has been done”.

“At all material times, the Judiciary must never be seen to be biased or compromised because its nature is supposed to be a succourer of the weak, a defender of societal morals, a soul of the nation. In the recent past, we have seen questionable decisions made by our honourable Justices. In the recent past, we have seen glaring misconduct and gross incompetence from lawyers, who are also officers of the court. We have heard numerous reports of corruption too involving Judicial officers, but nothing has been done. This has led to the members of the general public to question the integrity of the Judiciary,” Cifire said.

“It is an open secret in Zambia today that the Judiciary is viewed as one of the most corrupt institutions, second only to the Zambia Police. And yet these are the two institutions that are supposed to protect the freedoms and liberties of the citizens.

Members of the public know that in Zambia today, judgments are being bought. It’s is an open secret today that there are lawyers, some even respected and senior at the bar, specialized in bribing judges. They have made their names through that.”

He said society was suffering injustices due to ills in the judiciary.

“There is a big rot in the Judiciary. There is need for urgent attention because society is suffering injustice. Surprisingly, for those in the Judiciary, it is business as usual. They are behaving as if all is well,” Cifire said.

He further alleged that judgment in the Savenda versus Stanbic Bank case had exposed the extent of corruption in the Judiciary and further opened the Bench to scrutiny.

Cifire said the Judiciary should never play to the gallery and maintained that “the Savenda versus Stanbic Bank matter will not go away until justice is not only done, but also seen to be done”.

“The judgment in the Savenda V Stanbic Bank has just exposed the extent of corruption in the Judiciary. It has opened the Judiciary to scrutiny. It is a matter of public concern. The Judiciary must never play to the gallery. Citizens demand justice and justice is what they will get. This matter will not go away until justice is not only done, but also seen to be done. We shall only rest when justice is done…The Judiciary is answerable to the people of Zambia, and as such, the people of Zambia shall have a final say,” he said. “As a matter of fact, we have notified the police of our peaceful demonstration this coming Thursday to demand the Chief Justice, as the immediate supervisor of the judges mentioned in the Savenda case, to act. The Chief Justice cannot be silent on this matter. She needs to act with reasonable speed because justice delayed is justice denied. The delay in acting on this matter is causing irreparable damage to the Judiciary.”

He further said there was need for the learned justices to do a serious introspection and honest self-criticism about their recent professional conduct.

Cifire further echoed Civil Society for Constitutional Agenda (CiSCA) chairperson Bishop John Mambo’s call for a national indaba to address concerns raised about the conduct of judicial officers.

“To some extent, I agree with Bishop John Maambo in his call for a national indaba to address concerns raised about the conduct of judicial officers, though the Judiciary has capacity to regulate itself. There is need for the learned Justices to do a serious introspection and honest self-criticism about their recent professional conduct. The problems that the Judiciary is going through are self-inflicted. Her Lordship the Chief Justice needs to take a bold decision in providing leadership. It is like there’s no head for the Judiciary,” said Cifire.

The Mast