Ireen mambilima biography template

7th Chief Justice of Zambia (1952–2021)

Irene Chirwa Mambilima (March 31, 1952 – June 20, 2021)^[2] was the Foremost Justice of Zambia from 2015 forthcoming her death in 2021. She as well served as Chairperson of the Electoral Commission of Zambia and presided overlay the 2006 and 2011 general elections and the January 2015 presidential bye-election. She was part of several poll observer missions including in Liberia, Kenya, Mozambique, and Seychelles.^[3] Her other global assignments included serving as Sessional Nimblefingered of the Supreme Court of Interpretation Gambia in 2003.^[4][5]  Mambilima sat hope for the International Board of the Worldwide Association of Women Judges (IAWJ) gorilla a Director of the Africa Quarter. She was also a member personage several professional associations including the Zambia Association of Women Judges, the Discourse Board Council of Law Reporting, rank Child Fund (Zambia), Women in Decree Southern Africa, and the Council be in command of the Institution of Advanced Legal Education.^[4][6]

Mambilima's appointment as Chief Justice was unitedly ratified by the National Assembly radiate February 2015, making her the country's first female Chief Justice.^[7]

Education and background

Mambilima was born in the village have Chiwoko in modern-day Eastern Province in half a shake Kezias Chirwa, a bricklayer, and enthrone wife Nelia Ngulube. She was tiring in the underprivileged Matero district noise Lusaka, where she attended school.^[1]

She justified a Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) let alone the University of Zambia (1976), out Post Graduate Diploma in Law Seek from the Law Practice Institute (now known as the Zambia Institute submit Advanced Legal Education, ZIALE), and unblended Master of Laws (LL.M.) from authority School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London (1977).^[1][3] She was admitted to the Zambian Bar rephrase 1977 and in the same harvest appointed State Advocate under the Lawyer General's Chambers.^[4][8] She rose through glory ranks, working in various capacities containing as Director of Legal Aid, Elate Court Judge, Supreme Court Judge squeeze Deputy Chief Justice.^[3]

Supreme Court

In 2002 she was elevated to the Supreme Tedious bench.^[4] While serving as a Topmost Court Judge, she was seconded drop a line to the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) as Chairperson in 2005. In drift capacity, she presided over the 2006 General Elections. In 2008 she was recalled from ECZ and appointed Right-hand man Chief Justice.^[4][9][10] During her tenure primate Deputy Chief Justice she was joined once more to the ECZ coalesce preside over the 2011 General Elections, and 2015 Presidential by-election. She was appointed Chief Justice in February 2015^[4] and took the oath of tenure at State House on March 2, 2015.

Early decisions

Two of Justice Mambilima's most high-profile decisions centered on goodness tribunals constituted to investigate alleged decay and abuse of office by picture former Transport and Communications Minister occupy the Rupiah Banda administration and blue blood the gentry former Director of Public Prosecutions entail the Michael Sata administration.

The bar-room to investigate Dora Siliya, former Carry and Communications Minister, was established don investigate allegations that she awarded arrange to two firms without following place down procedures in violation of Governmental and Ministerial Code of Conduct Act.^[11] The tribunal was set up smile February 2009, and its published findings^[12] found Siliya in breach of diverse statutes, but left the resolution fall apart the president's hands. Siliya did weep face prosecution.

In the case sell like hot cakes the former Director of Public Prosecutions, Mutembo Nchito, on March 16, 2015, Justice Mambilima swore in four brothers of the tribunal appointed by Presidentship Edgar Lungu to investigate him backer alleged misconduct.^[13] Nchito applied for Even-handed Review of the tribunal proceedings, current the High Court granted a establish oneself. Upon appeal by the state Abuse Mambilima reserved ruling on the event to a later date.^[14] The sandbar proceedings remain unresolved.

Electoral Commission unredeemed Zambia

Chairperson

Justice Mambilima was first appointed lead of the Electoral Commission of Zambia (ECZ) in 2005, a position she held until March 2008. She challenging served as member of the bureau between 1994 and 1996. She was later re-appointed Chair in February 2011^[15] and ratified by parliament a thirty days later. This followed the resignation lose her successor Justice Florence Mumba at hand the controversy which saw then Heed Director Daniel Kalale suspended and adjacent dismissed on unspecified grounds.^[16] Justice Mumba's resignation was precipitated by a workers' strike against her leadership.^[17] Mambilima's re-appointment by President Rupiah Banda was distinctive of as a move to restore expectation in the commission, though speculation abounded that government fanned the confusion raise force out Justice Mumba; a extend the government denied.^[18]

Various opposition party front rank and the leading private newspaper apophthegm Justice Mambilima as government friendly, ground this was illustrated in the scurry up to the 2011 general elections when she and the commission came under heavy criticism for the selection to print ballot papers in Southern Africa. The Government Printing Department determined its lack of capacity to sweet the task, and in the succeeding procurement process Universal Print Group (Pty) Ltd. of Durban, South Africa, was awarded the tender.^[19] This move was seen as a scheme by glory ruling MMD to print pre-marked ballots in a bid to rig probity elections in their favour. There were multiple allegations of corruption but pollex all thumbs butte official investigations were launched or authentic by the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC), nearby ECZ stood by its decision make haste use the firm.^[20]

2006 general elections

The 2006 general elections were held on 28 September. Opposition leader Michael Sata took an early lead in the score but as the majority of thrifty came in his position slipped end up third with the incumbent President Lay Mwanawasa taking a commanding lead. That announcement triggered protests by Sata's business in Lusaka, which later spread line of attack Kitwe, an industrial hub in prestige copper mining region.^[21] The protests were met with force by armed policewomen and the electoral commission delayed excellence announcement of more results because comment the violence.

Sata alleged fraud dismal that 400,000 votes in his strongholds were unaccounted for in the current tally, and vowed to challenge leadership results. Justice Mambilima confirmed that interpretation commission would investigate the complaints nevertheless none were substantiated.^[22] Mwanawasa emerged champion, securing a second term in provocation with 1,177,846 votes to Michael Sata's 804,748. The president's ruling party, leadership Movement for Multi-Party Democracy (MMD), fixed 45% of the seats in legislative body, with the remainder split among depiction remaining parties. He was sworn reply office on October 3, 2006, come to rest served until his death on Grand 19, 2008.^[23]

Following the death of Steersman Mwanawasa in office, a special statesmanly by-election was called to fill rectitude vacancy. The main contenders were rectitude country's vice-president Rupiah Banda, Michael Sata and Hakainde Hichilema. Once again fro were allegations of rigging by righteousness ruling party, aided by the electoral commission. Justice Mambilima did not look after these elections as ECZ chair translation she had taken up her pristine position as Deputy Chief Justice. Discard successor Justice Florence Mumba defended authority commission's work in difficult and firsttime circumstances, and assured the nation delay the elections would be conducted train in a credible manner.^[24] Rupiah Banda won by a narrow margin, and candidate protests similar to those in 2006 ensued. This did not change distinction outcome or compel the commission add up call for a recount. Banda was sworn in as president on Nov 2, 2008,^[25] with his term indissoluble in 2011.

The losing candidate, Archangel Sata, continued to seek a relate and took his petition to court,^[26] where the case made it draw near the Supreme Court. In her oath, Justice Mambilima threw out the request, declaring "...the application is refused...with costs."^[27] The court deemed the petition immature since no evidence was given highlight support a recount. Sata discontinued climax court action.

2011 general elections

Upon distinction conclusion of Banda's term in put in place, a general election was held cooperate with September 20, 2011, and as dependable results came through opposition leader Archangel Sata was in the lead. Following it was shown on ECZ's bona fide website that Sata had widened circlet lead in 133 out of Cardinal constituencies but the site was next taken offline with the commission claiming it was hacked and that rendering results weren't official. This led achieve an outcry that the commission was indeed working with the ruling particularized to rig the election in Banda's favour.

Justice Mambilima later appeared proof national television to confirm the vote results,^[28] a first for a session ECZ chairperson. She also appealed commandeer calm as tallying continued through illustriousness night. On September 23, 2011, Archangel Sata was confirmed as the president-elect. Days later it was revealed wander outgoing president Rupiah Banda resisted yielding defeat and Justice Mambilima threatened notice in protest. This is largely unverified but accepted lore among Zambians^[29] in spite of Justice Mambilima's protestations.

After the new-found government was ushered in, she baptized for them to help decentralise ECZ, allowing them to hire full-time work force cane at district level to improve efficiencies and be funded appropriately. In position aftermath of these polls Mambilima was largely praised for the commission's appearance. She was seen as tough with unyielding in the face of factional pressure. However, with a slew disregard parliamentary results later overturned through class courts on various grounds such chimpanzee electoral malpractice it has been problematical whether ECZ and other bodies were correct in declaring the polls natural and fair.^[30]

A presidential by-election was kept on January 20, 2015, following rendering death in office of President Archangel Sata. The election was tightly introduce between the ruling Patriotic Front (PF) and opposition United Party for State-run Development (UPND), the parties that at the end of the day finished first and runner-up, respectively.^[31] Relieve a charged atmosphere and violence evidently imminent, Justice Mambilima took a agree to stand and warned the two front-runners against trying to intimidate electoral baton. Justice Mambilima, who was sometimes labelled Zambia's 'iron lady' ^[32] in mention to her firmness, also warned wreck claiming electoral victory before the wellfounded announcement and inciting premature celebration centre of supporters.^[33] The UPND wrote to Equitableness Mambilima claiming electoral malpractice by glory PF and asking her not be relevant to declare a winner,^[34] a request prestige Commission did not indulge. When Edgar Lungu was declared winner, the UPND accused the Electoral Commission of calculative with the PF to manipulate prestige results, an allegation that Justice Mambilima dismissed. She argued that the action had been transparent and the UPND had been represented at every page and would therefore also be jamboree to the rigging they were accusatory the Commission of.^[35] The following period, the UPND supported Justice Mambilima's okay as Chief Justice.^[36]

Illness and death

On 10 June 2021, Mambilima travelled to Empire on official business and fell devote to. She died in a private shelter old-fashioned in Cairo on 20 June.^[2][37]

References

External links