Judiciary has expressed concern over low funding that it has been allocated in the 2020/2021 national budget saying its operations are likely to suffer greatly.

High Court Registrar Agnes Patemba and Supreme Court judge Rezine Mzikamanda told the Parliamentary Cluster Committee on Legal and Government Assurances that K11.3 billion has been allocated to the Judiciary instead of the proposed K60 billion.

Patemba said the deficit of K48.5 billion is said to likely choke operations of the judiciary which is operating under poor infrastructure among other challenges.

She also expressed fears that the 12 more judges that are expected to soon join the judiciary will not have all the required resources to deliver effectively.

Reacting to the concerns, co-chairperson of the cluster committee of Parliament on legal and government assurances; Yusufu Nthanda said it is pathetic that judiciary continues to face financial challenges when other arms of government are receiving a considerable amount of funding.

He said the committee will take up the issue to treasury for consideration.