Corpun file 12315

Zana (Zambia News Agency), Lusaka, 13 November 2003

Parliament supports repeal of corporal punishment

Corporal punishment parley

November 13, Zana -- Parliament has unanimously supported the amendment of the Local court bill to repeal corporal punishment.

Parliament also agreed to the amendment of the Supreme Court Bill to repeal corporal punishment relating to the Supreme Court.

In presenting the bills for amendment, Legal Affairs Minister George Kunda said there was need to amend the bills so that corporal punishment could be repealed.

He said that the provision of corporal punishment should be removed from the constitution.

Mr. Kunda said that no person should be subjected to any inhuman treatment.

And in supporting the bill, United Party for National Development (UPND) Member of Parliament (MP) for Livingstone Sakwiba Sikota said that the amendment was a progressive idea, as there was need to remove all forms of corporal punishment.

He observed that there was too much brutality in the streets, homes and in the country generally.

Mr. Sikota said that if brutality was made official then society was bound to abuse it on other people.

And UPND Luena MP Chrispin Sibetta who supported the bill however bemoaned the poor state of the Local Courts and the Supreme Courts.