President Hakainde Hichilema on Wednesday swore in 40 newly appointed judges, urging them to deliver justice that is faster, fairer and accessible to all Zambians as the judiciary undergoes one of its largest expansions in recent years.
The judges, appointed on 9 April and later ratified by Parliament, include four to the Supreme Court, three to the Constitutional Court, seven to the Court of Appeal and 26 to the High Court.
Twenty‑eight of the appointees are women, a gender balance the Zambian leader said reflects his administration’s commitment to inclusion.
Hichilema told the judges that public service demanded dedication beyond remuneration, reminding them that their appointments carried a responsibility to uphold professional excellence.
“You owe it to the people of Zambia, and you need to be committed to public service. Please, don’t fail the nation. Professional excellence must be there as a minimum,” he said.
He said courts must respond to the needs of society and ensure that justice is not limited to urban centres.
Decentralisation, he said, was essential to making justice accessible and some judges would be deployed to provincial stations to strengthen service delivery.
He urged them not to resist such postings, saying justice must reach citizens wherever they live.
The Zambian leader said the appointments were designed to reflect national unity and regional diversity, adding that younger judges had been included to strengthen institutional memory and ensure the bench remains in touch with the country’s demographic realities.
He also highlighted the growing presence of women in senior public roles, noting that the vice‑president, the Constitutional Court president, the Speaker of the National Assembly and the Electoral Commission chairperson are all female.
Hichilema also swore in Loveness Maambo Mayaka as Clerk of the National Assembly, telling her that parliament must craft progressive laws that are clear and easy for the judiciary to interpret.
JN/APA