Lusaka, 15th August 2019 – The Judiciary through the Zambia Association of Women Judges (ZAWJ) this week hosts a delegation from the Tanzania Women Judges Association (TAWJA), on a learning exchange visit. The two man delegation comprising Hon. Lady Justice Leila Mgonya, High Court Judge and Hon Anipha Mwingira aims to;
• Exchange experiences on the establishment of the Gender Based Violence (GBV) Fast Track and User Friendly courts
• Familiarize with procedures and adjudication of GBV cases.
• Learn how to handle and adjudicate GBV cases with the aid of technology (CCTV and Video Conference)
• Learn how to handle exhibits in GBV cases.
The Hon. Chief Justice Mrs. Justice Irene C. Mambilima accompanied by Hon. Mrs. Justice Fulgency Chisanga, Judge President Court of Appeal and President of ZAWJ, Hon. Justice Mulongoti, Ms. Nalishebo Imataa, Chief Administrator, and Hon. Charles Kafunda, Chief Registrar, welcomed the Tanzanian delegation when they paid a courtesy call on her. She informed the visiting delegation that the GBV Courts resulted from the passing of the Anti GBV Act of 2011, an initiative of the Zambia Law Development Commission and the Zambia Association of Women Judges.
The Hon Chief Justice informed the delegation that there is need to develop a multi-sectoral approach in the fight against GBV. She thanked cooperating partners such as the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and other stakeholders for the support so far rendered to the judiciary in the construction of the 6 GBV courts at Kabwe, Lusaka, Mongu, Choma, Chipata, and Ndola. Chief Justice Mambilima empahsised the need for the speedy disposal of GBV matters, which are prone to interference if not concluded in good time, as perpetrators of GBV crimes are usually people known to the victim, and are in some cases family members. She however bemoaned the lack of an active forensics laboratory that would especially assist in disposing cases relating to minors.
In response, the Tanzanian delegation leader Hon. Justice Leila Mgonya thanked the Hon. Chief Justice, the Zambia Association of Women Judges for hosting the delegation on the learning exchange visit. She highlighted that Zambia was chosen for the study tour on account of the similarities of court processes between Zambia and Tanzania.
The delegation has so far visited the GBV courts at Lusaka and Ndola, Insakwe Approved School for Girls in Ndola, the One Stop Centre at the University Teaching Hospital among other learning activities.
