Lusaka, 16th August 2024 – The Chief Justice, Dr. Mumba Malila, SC, officiated at the opening ceremony of the 2day Bar-Bench Conference taking place at the Kenneth Kaunda International Conference Centre in Lusaka. The premier 2-day event held by the Judiciary in collaboration with the Law Association of Zambia (LAZ) is themed “commemorating the 50th Anniversary of the Supreme Court and the Law Association of Zambia”.
After a 14-year hiatus since it was last held in 2010, the conference brings together key stakeholders from the legal profession to deliberate on critical topics of common concern and interest to the Bar and the Bench such as Fast Track Courts on Economic and Financial Crimes and Corruption: Establishment And Expectations for the Bar; Independence and Financial Autonomy of the Judiciary; Counsel’s Duty to the Court, Client and Profession; Perceived Corruption in the Judiciary: Is It A Myth or A Reality; And The Judicial College: Is It A First Step to the 21st Century Judiciary?
In his remarks, Chief Justice Malila said “the message that the conference should send is that speed in dispensing justice matters; standards in lawyering and adjudicating matter; effective communication between the judges and the litigants or their legal representatives matters; synergies between the different players in the justice sector in improving the justice delivery system matters; and above all that the rule of law matters”. He highlighted the importance of unity of purpose in devising strategies that will serve justice better, identify potential areas of law reform and education, and enhanced communication between the Bar and the Bench. The Chief Justice also highlighted that lawyers and judges must serve as accountability partners in the fight against corruption within the Judiciary.
In augmenting the Chief Justice’s remarks, Deputy Chief Justice Michael Musonda, SC called on the Bar to have courage tempered with courtesy in executing its duties. He encouraged lawyers to be bold in their three-tier duty to the court, to the client and the profession.
