Draft national legal aid policy finalized

Justice Minister Given Lubinda says the Draft National Legal Policy has been finalised and is at Cabinet office for consideration.

Mr. Lubinda says the policy aims at providing accessible and quality legal aid to the indigent and vulnerable groups in civil and criminal matters throughout the country.

Speaking during the handover of laptops and reference materials to the Legal Aid Board by the European Union worth 100,000 Euros, Mr. Lubinda bemoaned the lack of access to legal representation by the poor in communities due to lack of knowledge about the Legal Aid Board.

He has since called on the Legal Aid Board to embark on sensitisation programs aimed at helping citizens know about its mandate and help them have access to legal representation in the courts of law.

Mr. Lubinda has also urged the board to use of the donated books to understand the law and the cases for their clients, so as to help assist the Courts arrive at well articulated and just judgments.

Speaking at the same event, European Union Representative, Gianluca Azzoni commended government for finalising the draft Legal Aid Policy.

He notes that justice plays a central role in the development plans of the country, featuring prominently in the vision 2030 and in the Seventh National Development Plan which aims at creating a conducive governance environment for an inclusive society and a diversified economy.

And Legal Aid Board Chairperson, Mandy Manda has commended the European Union and the Germany government for facilitating the procurement of the office equipment and reference materials.