Irene Mambilima
| Irene Mambilima | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| 7th Chief Justice of Zambia | |
|
Assumed office March 2, 2015 |
|
| Nominated by | Edgar Lungu |
| Preceded by | Ernest Sakala |
| Deputy Chief Justice | |
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In office March 20, 2008 – March 2, 2015 |
|
| Nominated by | Levy Mwanawasa |
| Preceded by | David Lewanika |
| Succeeded by | Marvin Mwanamwambwa |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
March 31, 1952 Chiwoko Village, Chipata |
| Spouse(s) | Major Joseph Mambilima (Retired) |
| Children | Five children |
| Alma mater |
University of Zambia, (LL.B) University of London, (LL.M) |
Irene Chirwa Mambilima (born March 31, 1952) is the Chief Justice of Zambia, in office since 2015.
Prior to her appointment as Chief Justice, Mambilima was the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia. In this position, she presided over Zambia's 2006, 2011 presidential and parliamentary elections, and the January 2015 presidential by-election. She has been part of several election observer missions including in Liberia, Kenya, Mozambique and Seychelles. Other past international assignments have included serving as Sessional Judge of the Supreme Court of The Gambia.
Justice Mambilima sits on the International Board of the International Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) as a Director of the Africa Region. She is also a member of a number of professional associations including the Zambia Association of Women Judges, the Editorial Board Council of Law Reporting, the Child Fund (Zambia), Women in Law Southern Africa, and the Council of the Institution of Advanced Legal Education.
Mambilima's appointment as Chief Justice was unanimously ratified by the Zambian Parliament in February 2015, making her the country's first female Chief Justice.
Justice Mambilima holds a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) from the University of Zambia, a Post Graduate Diploma in Law Practice from the Law Practice Institute (now known as the Zambia Institute of Advanced Legal Education, ZIALE), and a Master of Laws (LL.M.) from the School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London. She was admitted to the Zambian Bar in 1977 and in the same year appointed State Advocate under the Attorney General's Chambers. She rose through the ranks, working in various capacities including as Director of Legal Aid, High Court Judge, Supreme Court Judge and Deputy Chief Justice.
In 2002 she was elevated to the Supreme Court bench. While serving as a Supreme Court Judge, she was seconded to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as Chairperson in 2005. In that capacity, she presided over the 2006 General Elections. In 2008 she was recalled from ECZ and appointed as Deputy Chief Justice. During her tenure as Deputy Chief Justice she was seconded once more to the ECZ to preside over the 2011 General Elections, and 2015 Presidential by-election. She was appointed as Chief Justice in February 2015 and took the oath of office at State House on March 2, 2015.
Two of Justice Mambilima's most high-profile decisions have centred on the tribunals constituted to investigate alleged corruption and abuse of office by the former Transport and Communications Minister in the Rupiah Banda administration and the former Director of Public Prosecutions in the Michael Sata administration.
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