Editor,

RE: "Involve the public in the Penal Code amendment” (The New Times, October 23).

It is also important to underline that a law’s legitimacy and its respect by the general public derives from its being in line with contemporary social mores and ethos. The moment it is either too far ahead of accepted social norms or attempts to dial back the clock to far bygone days, the law will only be respected in the breach.

There are much better approaches to social engineering than the law, which should in fact take its cue from what society believes to be appropriate rather than the other way around.

Mwene Kalinda