Livingstone, Zambia |June 2025
In a speech that struck deep at the heart of criminal justice systems across the region, Zambia’s Learned Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr. Gilbert A. Phiri, S.C., has issued a bold call to arms: the justice system must be rebuilt, not just reformed, to centre the victim and dismantle the barriers that silence them.

Opening the second in-person Annual General Meeting of the Southern Africa Heads of Prosecution (SAHOP), Mr. Phiri challenged his counterparts from 16 SADC countries to do more than convene – to reimagine. Held under the theme, “Innovative Criminal Justice Practices – Strengthening Regional Collaboration to Combat Gender-Based Violence,” the meeting confronts one of the region’s most urgent and devastating crises.

“We cannot pretend the current system was designed with vulnerable women and girls in mind,” Mr. Phiri declared. “It’s time to flip the script. When victims speak, we must not only listen , we must act.”
His remarks were grounded in a sobering reality – Southern Africa has one of the highest prevalence rates of gender-based violence (GBV) globally. Yet for many victims, accessing justice is nearly impossible. Legal systems are still built around the accused, while victims are retraumatised, under-supported, and frequently unheard.

In response, Mr. Phiri proposed a seven-pronged blueprint for justice transformation – including trauma-informed court processes, one-stop survivor support centres, specialised GBV prosecution departments, and collaborative community partnerships to dismantle harmful gender norms.

“This is not about tinkering. This is about building a justice system that restores dignity. That doesn’t just convict, but heals,” he said.
Crucially, Mr. Phiri highlighted the need for innovation, resource mobilisation, and non-traditional partnerships in the face of shrinking global donor support. “We must look inward – to domestic resources, the private sector, and civil society – to finance the future of justice,” he urged.

The DPP’s address also tackled the stark link between GBV and systemic inequality. From child marriage to HIV, conflict to poverty, he painted a sobering picture of the layered, intersecting harms women face – and the failures of traditional justice systems to respond.

But where the problem is complex, the resolve is clear. DPP Phiri’s message resonated with heads of prosecution who, across the region, are grappling with similar crises.

“Access to justice, victim-informed prosecutions, and trauma-sensitive courts should not be lofty ideals,” he said. “They must become a lived reality for every woman and girl.”
As the SAHOP meeting continues, the Learned DPP’s powerful words set the tone for a transformative dialogue – one that may well redefine the region’s prosecutorial response to GBV.

Because justice must not only punish. It must protect, empower and above all – believe.