CHIEF Justice Dr Mumba Malila says the Ministry of Justice has incorporated provisions in the criminal procedure Amendment Bill that will empower his office to promulgate sentencing guidelines. He adds that the criminal justice system had shown serious weaknesses in concluding cases within a reasonable time. Speaking at the High Court Criminal Sessions opening in Mansa, Monday, Dr Malila said plea bargaining had been constrained by the absence of sentencing guidelines. “Now one of the concerns frequently raised in this discourse is that the effective utilisation of plea bargaining is constrained by the absence of sentencing guidelines. And when I officiated at the opening of criminal session in Lusaka last year, I addressed this issue clearly when I stated as...
