FORMER Transport and Communications minister William Harrington says his intention to move a motion in the Lusaka high court to probe Tourism and Arts minister Sylvia Masebo over allegations of abuse authority regarding the operations at Zambia Wildlife Authority (ZAWA) hangs in the balance because he has no financial capacity to push his agenda forward.
Mr Harrington had sought judicial review over acting chief justice Lombe Chibesakunda’s decision to refuse to appoint a Tribunal to probe Ms Masebo.
On Tuesday, the Lusaka High Court ruled in his favour that he had a right to be heard over his allegations against Ms Masebo but it did not award him costs for his action saying since the matter had moved in public interest, each party would bear its costs.
Mr Harrington has however complained that the action of the judicial review had so far been costly adding that currently he had no personal financial capacity to commence a tribunal as ordered by the court because he had no funds.
He said in a walk-in interview that unless other stakeholders who wished to see justice in the matter came on board, the judgment granted in his favor by the courts of law would remain on paper.
Mr Harrington said that the legal process had so far proved to be expensive on his part and that proceeding with the matter at this point was dependant on whether or not he would raise the funds required to proceed.
He said he was currently waiting for a quotation from his lawyer Gilbert Phiri on the projected cost of the whole action of the tribunal on the way-forward.
Mr Harington said that from his own analysis so far, the action would cost thousands and thousands of kwacha because his lawyers would have to appear in court on a daily basis for a minimum 30 days as required by the law.
He said that it would be unreasonable for him to expect the lawyers to go ahead with the matter when he had no capacity to finance it.
Mr Justice Dominic Sichinga said in his judgment that the Parliamentarian and Ministerial Code of Conduct required that acting Chief Justice Lombe Chibesakunda should appoint a Tribunal to probe allegations against Ms Masebo.
He said that the decision by the acting Chief Justice to refuse to appoint a Tribunal was flawed because Mr Harrington had the right to be heard under section 13 (1) and (3) of the Act.
Mr Justice Sichinga said he was satisfied that there was an illegality on the acting Chief Justice’s decision not to appoint a Tribunal to investigate allegations leveled against Ms Masebo.
Let him come on facebook we can help.
The system at work
So in short you miscalculated! How did you manage with the Dora Siliya tribunal? Go back to those who helped you. They may help you again. Transparency or is it “Opaque” International were vocal during Dora’s case. Try them again
This is the problem in Zambia.You maybe fighting for the majority pipo,but when it comes to your support you are alone.I wish particularly the former Directors of ZAWA could come to his help.They’re the direrct beneficiaries.
Yaluka zoona, ka money nika problem konsefya mudala, obviously there was no forecast on this part. Poor Harrington will not see justice prevail on this issue. Maybe trying to convince the liars (lawyers) to do voluntary work!
Bwana Harrington, go for Legal Aid…Why start something you can not finish…
IT DOES NOT MATTER: Money is not the principle issue here. Were there transgressions committed? Could the money that was potentially misused, or even embezzled, have gone to help the less privileged in society? Was it wrong for Mr Harrington to observe that there was a potential case of corruption in this matter? On which side is the law: Money or society, and for that matter does the law recognize the need for national leaders to safeguard and prudently manage public finances to benefit the poor as well? Should poor people that do not have money to drag rich people to courts due to the money-centered nature of the legal system in Zambia, be allowed by the Law to be swindled by rich people with hordes of bags of money?
I as Makaveli the Don Kiluminati here by donate $900,000,000 to this cause.Please,honourable give me a call at 097 4747890 or e-mail me at [email protected].
Where is Sylvia Masebo?She is very quiet!
You mean Silvia AkA Mimi from loves games, dont you watch? She is ailing with drug resistant diseases now! May god bless her.
@Cat Power, that not fun, I hope you say that to your sisters too. Sylvia is sick, and you shouldn’t be celebrating.
iwe harrington look before you leap…you mus always have a plan b when u start something…tough luck
Foolish you ! How do you start a war without ammunition ? You want us to start wasting our money on Impalas afterall mulya mweka bafi***la !
Pro bono?
How the hell do you sue someone minus the funds to go forward? Now you end up looking like the real ***** you are iwe ka Harrington. Just go home and concentrate on sorting out your household. Atase…we have more important issues to deal with like hounding out this other *****, Summer Kabimba.