THE SURETY DEBACLE

FROM what we have witnessed in the past on the issue of one being a surety, signing bond or bail for a friend, workmate, relative or indeed a lover, it is an agreement of convenience where only the person that is locked up knows whether he or she will fulfill the promise of being available at court whenever needed.

We can also confidently state that the same issue only benefits the accused person and if things go to the worst, the surety gets locked for a number of days and is freed upon payment of what was agreed upon in the bond application, and in most cases such cases come to an end just like that and the persons at large will appear in society again and lead a normal life.

Sometimes we can call it a business, but the case is different for public figures or politicians as they have to keep up with public appearances and their followers, unlike common unknown individuals who will give the courts and prosecutors a tough time to even identify or locate them.

This same issue of surety has painted the courts in Zambia black, not knowing how individuals who have difficulties attending court sessions have wantonly disregarded the good laws of the land.

Already, we have seen many friends and relatives of those with active cases at the courts starting to pull out as sureties, the latest one being a wife who refused to be surety to her husband in Chama District and that of Matero Member of Parliament Honorable Miles Sampa who hinted he was contemplating on pulling out as surety for acting Patriotic Front president Given Lubinda.

We are likely to experience a situation where most people will continue pulling out of cases involving their friends or relatives with what is happening currently where most politicians are going into hiding for fear of being jailed the moment they realize the case is not going their way.

Most politicians in Africa have the money and connections to sneak in and out of a country and live a decent life abroad, leaving their followers and those they might have used in one or two cases struggling with nearly everything.

Foreigners who commit bailable offences even know how porous our country is when it comes to getting bonds and disappearing forever leaving sureties to pay and suffer the consequences of trusting someone who knew they would run.

The Judiciary in Zambia must up its game, work closely with the police and Immigration Department in closing all the gaps that allow suspects on bail to cross out of the country at any border without any trace.

Up to now, Zambians still want answers on how and when fugitive Pamela Gondwe managed to sneak out of the country with huge sums of money when the airport and our borders have full time Immigration, police and other security officers aided by scanners.

We also hold the same view and suspicion that immigration officers work with police officers in aiding these illegalities by conniving with suspects and possibly cash in from suspects to escape.