Understanding the Origin of Crime
PRISON FELLOWSHIP ZAMBIA: CONSULTATION ON THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM - 26 to 28 MARCH 1992
INTRODUCTION
At the outset let me say what a great privilege and honour it is for me to be here today not. For many of us in Zimbabwe who have been battling with grave human rights abuses and the oppression that is synonymous with a party committed to de facto one party rule, what has happened in Zambia over the last few months has been the source of great encouragement. I bring greetings from the human rights community in Zimbabwe and the Christian community who salute the people of Zambia. I should stress that we salute not just the MMD for being so gracious in victory but also UNIP for allowing a peaceful transition to take place. The people of Zambia have done a great thing for Africa; a great precedent has been set and we pray and trust that what the people of Zambia have done and have allowed to happen, will act as a catalyst in the whole region.
We in the Christian community in Zimbabwe are perhaps more encouraged than anything else by the obvious faith of President Frederick Chiluba. From what he has done thus far it seems to us as if he is committed to bringing true justice, justice based on Biblical principles, to Zambia. The first sign of this was when he appointed Dr Rodger Chongwe to be Minister of Justice. I first met Dr Chongwe when we both attended a judicial colloquium in Harare in l989 and it has been a great pleasure to get to know him. I am aware that he is a man with a deep commitment to human rights and that he is open to reforming the complete justice system in Zambia and the criminal justice system in particular. With such men at the helm I am reminded of the true fast mentioned by the Prophet Isaiah in Isaiah 58: 6 - l0