Constitution should reflect national aspirations � expert

Addressing multitudes of participants at the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Lawyers Association conference yesterday, Justice Zak Yacoob said many African countries inherited Constitutions from their Western colonisers and such documents have demonised African cultures and customs and the customary law.

He said whilst the Constitution is the supreme law, it is unfortunate that many SADC countries have abandoned their customary laws in favour of Western values emphasised in their Constitutions.