Kabwe High Court judge Kelvin Limbani has lamented that despite an increase in the population, Central Province still experiences inadequate court infrastructure.

Speaking during the ceremonial opening of the 2019 criminal sessions, Monday, Justice Limbani said inadequate infrastructure affected all other courts in the town, with local courts having to rent former tarvens.

“The high court building only has one court room, two chambers for the two High Court Judges and six offices for the 22 members of staff. There is no space for the registry staff who squat in a corridor and the witnesses who have to wait in the sun during court sessions. The same court is used by the Supreme Court and the Court of Appeal which circuit three times every calendar year respectively. When the superior courts circuit, the judges of the High Court and the support staff operate from home as they have to surrender the court room, chambers and the offices to create room for the superior courts,” Justice Limbani lamented.

Justice Limbani expressed concern at several court buildings under construction in the province whose works had stalled.

“A number of court buildings have been under construction for some time now, among them, Chibombo local court, Makululu in Kabwe, Kapiri Mposhi, Masansa and Chembe. These courts are at various levels of construction with the general report being that the constructions have stalled. At the High Court, for example, the security wall fence has been undergoing construction for some years now the works are yet to be completed, thereby posing a risk to the security of the judges, court officials and the litigants,” he said.

He noted that improved infrastructure would lead to enhanced dispensation of justice.

“We are hoping that this year substantial progress can be made with regard to the construction and completion of court infrastructure. This would help resolve the challenges of office space and court houses, thereby, lead to the enhanced dispensation of justice,” said Justice Limbani.