A human rights activist has sued the Law Association of Zambia for breach of statutory provisions.

According to a statement of claim filed in the Lusaka High Court, Human Rights and Amnesty Executive Director Fredrick Chinsala said LAZ breached its statutory obligation by dismissing his complaint against their member.

Chinsala on July 1, 2008 filed a complaint against lawyer Michael Banda of Nanzila advocates.

He says LAZ dismissed the complaint on grounds that there was no solicitor- client relationship between the parties and an appeal to the Honorary Secretary to review its ruling failed as LAZ stated that there was no new evidence to be determined.

Chinsala stated that after appealing against the ruling of LAZ to the Ministry of Justice, the acting principal parliamentary counsel and permanent secretary legal informed him that his matter was receiving attention.

He said the ministry’s response which overruled the associations response meant that LAZ breached the statutory provisions.

Chinsala submitted that the LAZ committee ruling was set aside because the matter was heard de novo (new trial) from 27 July 2012 until it was closed on May 31, 2013.

He further stated that after writing to the Attorney General to speed up the process of hearing his matter, no response has come forward.

Chinsala now wants the court to intervene as LAZ breached the legal practitioners act by dismissing the complaint in full view of evidence.

He said LAZ had failed to impose sanctions against its erring member to improve and raise the bar of the profession.