President Edgar Chagwa Lungu launches Justice Patrick Matibini’s ‘Zambian Civil Procedure Commentary and Cases’ book

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By Jessie Zimba and Derrick Sinjela

President Edgar Chagwa Lungu has commended Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. patrick Matibini for authoring a legal practitioners book dubbed: ‘‘Zambian Civil Procedure Commentary and Cases’’ which the Zambian leader says will contribute towards literacy remodeling.

President Lungu says authoring books will result in increased literacy levels as publication of local content will encourage a reading culture among all citizens regardless of one’s social status.

Launching of a book entitled ‘Zambian Civil Procedure Commentary and Cases’ compiled by Speaker of the National Assembly of Zambia, Justice Dr. Patrick Matibini, SC, MP, at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel, Lusaka Friday, 16th February 2018, President Lungu

Chief Justice My Lady Justice Irene Mambilima, Deputy Chief Justice Marvin Mwanamwambwa, former Chief Justice Mathew Ngulube former Chief Justice Ernest Sakala, Judges of the Supreme and Constitutional Courts, Judges of the Court of Appeal & of the High Court;  Justice Minister Given Lubinda, First Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Catherine Namugala, Second Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, Mwimba Malama, Clerk of the National Assembly, Mrs. Cecilia Mbewe, Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) President, Ms. Linda Kasonde, media, distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen, witnessed President Lungu launch State Counsel Matibini’s book.

A delighted President Lungu hoped that Dr. Matibini will continue publishing books, in a Media Statement circulated by Cecilia Lubumbashi Mulenga (Mrs) Chief Analyst-Press and Public Relations, on behalf of Special Assistant to the President Press and Public Relations, Amos Chanda.

“I thank Justice Dr. Patrick Matibini, State Counselc, the speaker of the National Assembly for according me this honour to launch, ‘Zambian Civil Procedures Commentary and Cases’ book. Dr. Patrick Matibini has done what only a few people in Zambia have been able to do in their lifetime — authoring an authoritative book. This demonstrates your relentless commitment to the development of the body of knowledge and general human development in Zambia and beyond. Given your track record, I trust that this is just the beginning of many more publications to come from you,” President Lungu commended Dr. Matibini.

 

President Lungu said from a cursory look of the contents of Justice Matibini’s book, the Zambian leader noticed that the purpose of the book provided a one-stop compendium of Commentary and Cases on Civil Procedure in Zambia.

“The book is outlined in an easily accessible and readable format.  I am proud to note that you have blended various facets, principles, key statutory provisions, and a collection of judgements and rulings handed down especially by the Superior Courts of Zambia on Civil Procedure.  The book, shows that the commentary is well researched.  As a legal practitioner myself, I am convinced that this volume work will go a long way in providing rich and valuable information for law students, candidates for legal practitioners qualifying examinations, legal practitioners, Magistrates and Judges of the Superior Courts,” enthused President Lungu.

President Lungu said the exciting aspect of the project is that information is drawn from the Zambian context, meaning that, users of the book will find it helpful as it is localized.

“This book deserves to be celebrated because few people have managed to reduce their knowledge and experiences onto paper. So much knowledge and experience has been invested in a number of Zambians, yet, unfortunately very few people have reduced this wealth of knowledge and experience on paper in a manner that Justice Dr. Matibini has done. I appeal to other Zambians to emulate Dr. Justice Matibini. This challenge especially goes to all the senior lawyers to ensure that they make their contribution to the development of the justice system in Zambia by writing books and articles in various journals,” prodded President Lungu.

President Lungu appealed to the legal profession and citizens of Zambia with vast experience to reduce their knowledge in books for the benefit of future generations.

“I am convinced that if people from various walks of life take it upon themselves to document and produce books derived from their life experiences and even fiction stories of their imaginative world, our libraries would be complete with Zambian authored books.  We should all be inspired by our colleague and emulate his good works so that long after we leave service, our experiences, knowledge and thinking should be immortalized in books and articles we have written. This will enable the people of Zambia in various sectors to continue to benefit from our documented experiences,” President Lungu admonished budding authors.

President Lungu said the launch of this book came at a time when the Patriotic Front (PF) Government is taking measures to improve the justice delivery system in Zambia.

Making reference to the 2017-2021 Seventh National Development Plan (7NDP), launched on Wednesday, 21st June, 2017, themed: “Accelerating Development Efforts Towards the ‘Vision 2030, Without Leaving Anyone Behind’,  President Lungu  said Government has committed itself to the attainment of the national goal of transforming the country into, ‘A Prosperous Middle-Income Nation by 2030’.

“The PF Government, as outlined in the 7thNDP will focus on strengthening the capacities of institutions within the legal and justice sector to ensure that a number of challenges, such as the high backlog of cases, congestion in prisons, inadequate legal representation, inadequacies in the capacities of judicial systems and limited issuance of police bonds, are addressed,” noted President Lungu.

President Lungu told guests at the Taj Pamodzi Hotel book launch that it is a considerable shame that in the age of monumental connectivity, Zambia still sees evidence of a poor reading culture in the ever-increasing cases of examination malpractices; rampant fake news broadcasts and other media reports, and generally poor standards of workmanship.

We need to stop this retrogressive behaviour and language that seems to be taking root that ‘Zambians do not read’. This mindset is worrisome and indicative of the erosion of good reading habits. The culture of reading developmental information needs to be inculcated in both the young and older Zambians; I know most people rely on commentaries on social media, i would like to advise that we must invest more time in reading earnest materials,” advised President Lungu.

President Lungu believes that a reading and publishing of books will contribute towards Zambians feeding their mind with progressive ideas, sharpening thinking and socio-economic outputs.

“Reading is an important aspect of life because this leads to self- learning and development. Reading is the best form of self-education and there are no limits to what you can learn and become in life.  My Government would like to see human development encompassing people upgrading their knowledge. I want to see schools at all levels to strengthen their reading programmes. All institutions must invest in research and information centres, to enable them respond to various aspects they are working on effectively,” said an optimistic President Lungu.

But not all is lost, as President Lungu noted that ‘Transformation of Mindset is a process,’ which the PG Government is tackling by addressing the impediments frustrating people from authoring books and more importantly reading them.

President Lungu pointed out that the transformation is not for government alone, but must be embraced by all Zambians at personal and institutional level.

“We have no excuse not to undertake this journey of reading and authoring books in all vocations, because the benefits are beyond what we can envisage,” prodded President Lungu as he launched Justice Dr. Patrick Matibini’s ‘Zambian Civil Procedure Commentary and Cases’ book.