The council of churches in Zambia (ccz) has observed with dismay that some officers in the law enforcement agencies have sacrificed professionalism

The council of churches in Zambia (ccz) has observed with dismay that some officers in the law enforcement agencies have sacrificed professionalism by selectively discharging their functions and duties.  

Ccz says it is concerned about the selective application of the law when those perceived to be anti government receive its full measure while the opposite is true for those who favour the government.

Ccz states the law enforcement agencies and the judiciary are a cornerstone of a progressive democratic society and must therefore be impartial and should observe and respect the rule of law unlike what is happening on the ground.

This is contained in a pastoral letter signed by Reverend Suzanne Membe Matale CCZ General Secretary and availed to radio phoenix today stating that the judiciary has continued to strengthen public perception of selective dispensation of justice.

Reverend matale also observed that there have been certain acquittals and refusals to appeal high profile cases which have reinforced this view and that some cases that have passed through the courts of law have been casually dealt with, suggesting something was amiss in the judiciary system

Ccz has since called on the President, the Speaker and the Chief Justice to strengthen their institutional systems to ensure the independence of these arms of government adding that this would provide checks and balance and curb the rampant abuse of state institutions.

And members of the public have also been advised to continue trusting and respecting these arms of government for without them the whole governance system would collapse and breed anarchy.

Meanwhile, ccz has reiterated that the whole constitution making process has been flawed from the beginning and that they did not see the process that the NCC undertook as going to produce a document that the Zambians would identify with and call their own Constitution.

Reverend matale said from the beginning of the process, the church cautioned against the inbuilt majority of government people, politicians and sympathizers to the ruling party in the NCC as this action reduced the spirit and ideal of democracy and logical or fair debate in the NCC.

Ccz states that with foregoing, the NCC draft document leaves much to be desired as the document and the whole process has failed to meet the aspirations of the people as it has fundamentally departed from the people’s submissions as contained in the Mung’omba Draft Constitution and Report.

Ccz further concluded that the current constitution making process has disregarded with impunity the will of the people and has been a waste of the tax payers’ money which they say could have been used to provide for the much needed health and education services if we knew that the constitution making process would take the country nowhere.

Ccz says they have since rejected the face saver attempt at piece meal amendment of the current constitution and urge all concerned to revisit the people’s submission and give unto ourselves a brand new constitution in readiness for the 2011 elections.

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