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Statements
from the Chairman
 It
all started in 1991 when I shared a common vision with my colleague John
Sangwa vis to create an organisation that would not only create civic
awareness in our communities by enlightening people on their role in good
governance by empowering them with knowledge on their fundamental human
rights but one that would go beyond civic education by litigating on behalf
of the poor and helpless in our society and in the public interest. We
cherished the vision that, through the provision of legal representation to
indigent people, whom we would have conscientised on their rights, we would
be making a contribution to our society albeit in a small way and settling
judicial precedents in the area of public and human rights law, which would,
result in law reform in our country. It is therefore much satisfaction and
pride that today, I speak not of a vision that lies in the abstract recesses
of my mind, but of a practical reality that is to be seen in a solid
organization boasting well over 60 dedicated and suitably trained members of
staff with a real presence in all of Zambia's 9 provinces; an organization
of a truly national character and perhaps the only one of it's kind. None of
this, of course, would have been possible without the remarkable generosity
of our cooperating partners, namely NORAD, SIDA, and DANIDA to who I wish to
seize this opportunity to convey the boards immerse indebtedness for their
tremendous support. Their show of good will, not only to the Legal Resources
Foundation but to the people of Zambia, is to be deeply appreciated. With
this impressive network of legal advice offices, we now stand on the
threshold of an exciting era, ready to make law through ingenious public
interest and constitution-centred litigation. I would, in this regard,
encourage all staff of the Legal Resources Foundation to renew their
commitment to the ideals of the organization and bring to fruition the
vision we cherished so long ago. Lastly, I would encourage our donors to
continue to invest their trust and support in us because the ideals for
which we stand are universal. Indeed, the ultimate beneficially of our work,
in a world where globalisation is inducing closer interaction of the human
race, are not just the people of Zambia but the wider fraternity of human
race, human kind to which we all belong.
Robert Mbonani
Simeza,
Founder
Member, Legal Resources Foundation.
Statements
from the Projects Officer
 The
period covered in this report witnessed an impressive array of activities
carried out by the Foundation. It was a year in which three more provincial
advice centres were established in a continuing programme that has seen the
setting up of provincial centres from the year 2000 in efforts towards
strengthening the provision of legal aid.
The report captures activities embarked on by the Foundation ranging from
legal assistance and legal representation to deserving cases that emanated
from the advice centres. These gave us a considerable workload. Due
attention was given to cases of gross human rights violations. The
prevalence of human rights abuse perpetuated by state agencies is of great
concern and that necessitates constant surveillance.
However, the Foundation responded to different forms of human rights abuse
through monitoring, litigation and other interventions. The Foundation has
over the years retained its original concept of legal aid provision which is
the core business of the Foundation.
The Foundation in its 10 years of existence has not only expanded the advice
centres base but has also increased its staffing positions and conducted
other supportive activities aligned to the core project. There is still need
to facilitate platforms from which to provide legal services to the people
who find lawyers beyond their reach, both geographically and financially.
The established centres in the provinces undoubtedly provide a nucleus for
legal assistance to those in remote rural areas of our country.
The paralegals involvement in legal matters on a daily basis and their
services continue to empower communities through outreach programmes has
continued invaluably .
The growth and consistency of the Foundation in the promotion of human
rights has also exposed the LRF to international organisations and we
actively participate in the activities of the Southern African legal
Assistance Network (SALAN). Collaborative efforts with local and
International organisations prevail in a dependable manner promoting
constant exchange of vital human rights information and resource support.
It would be inopportune if mention of the two founding board members is
omitted, to whom the Foundation owes an immense debt of gratitude for legal
guidance support and general organisational direction.
The dedicated services rendered by staff of the Foundation through concerted
efforts in their work and the spirit for the organisation and the people we
serve can not be over emphasised.
We also pay a very special tribute to our donors for their generous support
to the Foundation's activities.
Robby Shabwanga
Projects officer
Report
on the Secretariat
The
LRF Secretariat continues to be housed at Woodgate House along Cairo Road in
Lusaka and serves as the national office of the Foundation. The secretariat
is charged with the responsibility of general administration and
implementation of all the projects of the Foundation. Due to the gradual
organic growth of the organisation arising out of the increase in provincial
legal advice centres and staff, organisational restructuring was carried out
during the year under review to alleviate administrative backlog. In line
with an evaluation undertaken by a consultant engaged by NORAD, the Board
resolved to restructure the administrative organ by dividing the
organisation into two zones, northern and southern. The Northern is composed
of Kabwe, Kitwe, Kasama and Solwezi legal advice centres, while the Southern
zone comprises Lusaka, Livingstone and Chipata centres. The Foundation drew
from its pool of long-serving staff by designating two of them to be
responsible for the operations and coordination of activities in the two
zones. Two senior lawyers were appointed as Principal Advocates in charge of
each respective zone, Abraham Mwansa for the Northern zone and Geoffrey
Mulenga for the Southern zone. The responsibilities of the two senior
lawyers involve supervising the litigation process under Legal Resources
Chambers and overseeing lawyers in other provincial centres falling within
their respective geographical portfolios.
The
Board further broadened the Projects Unit by appointing two Projects
Assistants to assist the Projects Officer. Ms. Millicent Peel was appointed
to oversee the Northern zone and Ms. Mary Chisanga for the Southern zone.
The Projects Assistants oversee the administrative and logistical operations
of projects in the zones, working in close coordination with the two
Principal Advocates.
During
the course of the year the Board and management engaged in a series of
meetings with the donor community in Lusaka at the Norwegian embassy for the
purposes of sourcing funds to broaden the scope of project activities.
Further meetings with other individual donors also followed. The Foundation
continues to rely invaluably on the relentless commitment, support and
services of the two founder members - Messrs Robert Simeza and John Sangwa
in the furtherance of the Foundation's work. This support extends to such
matters as administrative initiatives on implementation of projects as well
as regular inspection of legal documents. The two founder members' vast
experience in law practice is thus able to find expression in the legal
services ultimately dispensed to clients.
The
Secretariat also houses the Foundation's law firm the Legal Resources
Chambers, which serves as the litigation unit of the organisation. At the
chambers the lawyers attend to clients whose cases are referred by
paralegals from the advice centres, and proceed to represent them in court
whenever their cases merit legal representation.
The
Chambers is engaged in pursuing a number of public interest cases where
instructions have been received to litigate. The Chambers also hosts interns
pursing legal studies during their academic recess. Apart from doing
research, the interns are also engaged in the supportive projects that are
allied to the legal aid project such as the prison visits and follow up of
cases emanating from police stations and legal advice centres. Every year,
the chambers have also been hosting law students doing their learner legal
practitioner's course leading to their admission to the Bar.
Besides
rendering legal representation in court the lawyers provide a legal advisory
service to paralegals in cases beyond the capacity of the latter's legal
knowledge.
The
Foundation made tremendous improvements in its Information Technology
portfolio by linking all centres through the installation of an Internet
network to keep track of normal business. The improvements also pave way for
a more efficient means of transferring internal and external information and
exchange of legal documents. The system has contributed to the Foundation's
work efficiency in communication.
Owing
to the constraints on available transport, the Foundation acquired bicycles,
which were allocated to provincial centres for purposes of delivering mail
and easing distribution of the LRF newsletter in the remote rural parts of
the provincial towns.
Staff
During the period under review the Foundation continued to be run by an
efficient dedicated staff of 63 employees comprising management, lawyers,
secretaries, paralegals, journalists, legal clerks and office assistants.
As
part of its staff development programme, the Board and Management provided
staff with training opportunities both locally and overseas. The Foundation
considers specialised training as very vital to improving efficiency and
building staff capacities at both individual and organisational levels. The
secretarial staff of the organisation all undertook paralegal training to
acquire basic legal knowledge. During the year a few members of staff left
employment and others came in to fill the vacant positions.
Some
training opportunities were offered from outside the country financed
principally by overseas organisers but these were few and far between,
thereby, limiting staff participation. However, the locally organised
training workshops were fully utilised, especially the Institutional
Capacity Building project under IDASA
Internship
Programme
Over the last few years, the Foundation has been hosting interns
mostly from the School of Law of the University of Zambia. The internship
programme has been running for the past four years with some of the first
students to do their internship returning to join the Foundation as
permanent staff upon completion of their studies. Internship attachments
were deliberately initiated as an internal programme to advance the twin
ideals of nurturing interest in human rights among law students whilst
effecting transfer of legal skills.
Interns
that exhibit great potential are retained on long-term basis, as assets of
human resource for the Foundation. Since its inception the programme is
never short of prospective internship applicants, whether local, or foreign.
The response and interest it has generated prompted the Foundation to
increase attachment places during the period the students are on recess.
 The
Foundation has been recognised as a credible placement organisation for
interns from the two universities under a training programme called the Otto
Essien Young Professional Training Programme launched last year by the
United Nations Development Programme [UNDP] and Permanent Human Rights
Commission [PHRC]. The Foundation has also made substantial financial
contribution to stipend of interns under this programme whose duration is
two months. Seven law students have been on attachment to the Foundation
since the programme was introduced. The interns were attached to our Lusaka
and Kitwe offices.
During
the certificate presentation ceremony to participating students co-hosted by
UNDP and PHRC at Pamodzi Hotel on 10th December, which coincided with the
day the world commemorates Human Rights Day the Foundation was among 43
organisations awarded certificates of appreciation for contributing to the
internship programme in the category of placement organisations.
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