54
No. 2 of 2016]
Constitution of Zambia (Amendment)
(a) hear civil and criminal matters; and
(b) hear matters relating to, and in respect of, this Constitution.
(3) Except as otherwise provided in this Constitution, other
law or as ordered by a court, the proceedings of a court shall be in
public.
System of
court
120. (1) The Judiciary shall consist of the superior courts and
the following courts:
(a) subordinate courts;
(b) small claims courts;
(c) local courts; and
(d) courts, as prescribed.
(2) The courts shall be courts of record, except that local
courts shall progressively become courts of record.
(3) The following matters shall be prescribed:
(a) processes and procedures of the courts;
(b) jurisdiction, powers and sittings, of the Industrial Relations
Court, Commercial Court, Family Court, Children’s Court
and other specialised courts;
(c) classification and divisions of the subordinate courts;
(d) classification and divisions of the local courts;
(e) jurisdiction and composition of subordinate courts, small
claims courts, local courts and other prescribed courts;
and
(f) grading of judicial officers and staff of subordinate courts,
local courts and other prescribed courts.
(4) The courts, except the Supreme Court and the Constitutional
Court, shall be devolved to the Province and progressively to
districts.
(5) Superior courts shall sit as circuit courts in districts, in
accordance with a circuit schedule issued by the Chief Justice.
Ranking of
Supreme and
Constitutional
Courts
121. The Supreme Court and Constitutional Court rank
equivalently.
Functional
independence
of Judiciary
122. (1) In the exercise of the judicial authority, the Judiciary
shall be subject only to this Constitution and the law and not be
subject to the control or direction of a person or an authority.